Study Halls at Central Library and Dundas, Red Hill, Terryberry, Turner Park, Valley Park, and Waterdown branches resume on Tuesday, September 2. They will be open after-hours Mondays-Thursdays from 8 pm to Midnight. www.hpl.ca/study-halls
Due to campus events, McMaster University's Bookmobile Visits for Tuesdays, August 26 and September 2 (3:30-4:30 pm) have been cancelled. Service is expected to resume on Tuesday, September 9. Thank you for your understanding.
The accessibility door at Carlisle Branch is not working. We aim to fix it quickly.
Due to continued concrete work, the Rymal Road entrance will be unavailable until Friday, August 30. Access to the parking lot, accessible parking spaces, back entrance, and external drop box is available. Thank you for your patience.
All HPL Branches are closed on Sunday, August 31, and Labour Day, Monday, September 1st. Bookmobile is off the road, and Extended Access is not available. Regular service hours resume Tuesday, September 2. www.hpl.ca/hours
Due to a mid-day fire drill, Turner Park Branch and Les Chater Family YMCA are closed for a fire drill from noon-1 pm. Thank you for your patience.
Due to roof repair maintenance, the Branch is temporarily closed from September 2 until October 10. Please visit the Red Hill, Parkdale, and Barton locations as your nearest branches for your library needs. On August 28-29, there may be some noise disruptions and limited parking spots while the roof repair set-up begins. Thank you for your patience.
Hamilton Public Library Blazes a Way to the Must-Read Book of the Year
HAMILTON, ON – May 5, 2021 – Blaze Island is Hamilton Public Library’s Hamilton Reads 2021 title. The ecological thriller about climate change is written by Canadian author Catherine Bush.
As a Category 5 hurricane sweeps the eastern seaboard of North America, it leaves devastation and despair in its path. The storm disrupts the present and stirs up the past for Miranda and her father Alan who escape to an isolated cove in Canada’s Maritimes. In the aftermath of the storm, their lives are turned upside-down.
Author Catherine Bush is “thrilled and honoured” to have Blaze Island chosen for Hamilton Reads 2021. “I look forward to discussing my book with readers and setting off together on journeys of discovery and resilience.”
“While the pandemic shapes our immediate lives, the climate crisis goes on gaining force. When it comes to transforming the future, acts of imagining are as essential as any other gesture. We need to story our way into new possibilities,” the author adds.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, books have been an escape and a common ground for many people” says Lisa Weaver, HPL’s Director, Collections and Program Development. “This has been a record-breaking year for borrowing books at HPL. Hamilton loves to read and Blaze Island opens the door to many important conversations regarding climate change and caring for our environment.”
Hamilton Reads is HPL’s annual literary celebration in which the community is invited to discuss and examine several themes in one book. Blaze Island joins a long list of several great Hamilton Reads titles including Lawrence Hill’s The Illegal, Miriam Toews’ All My Puny Sorrows and Tom Wilson’s Beautiful Scars, to name a few.
Among the new features this year is Telephone Stories, in which HPL Staff read the Prologue and Chapters 1-5 of Blaze Island. Coming in mid-May. Dial 905-546-3200 and follow the prompts. Hamilton Reads also includes online concerts, author visits, programs, book clubs and more this year, to allow Members to connect safely with each other. Visit hpl.ca/hamilton-reads for details about the author, book and updates on events.
Blaze Island is currently available as a book and eBook. An eAudiobook is available, via OverDrive, in Fall. Borrow with a library card or sign up for an eCard today at hpl.ca.
About Hamilton Public Library
The Hamilton Public Library is a vibrant hub for information and culture, providing our diverse community the Freedom to Discover. As one of the largest library systems in Canada, Hamiltonians will discover something new at our 22 locations, two bookmobiles, or through our extensive digital collections. Visit us online at hpl.ca. Connect with us on Twitter @hamiltonlibrary and Facebook at HamiltonPublicLibrary.