Barton Branch has no power. The branch is still open. Construction outside was the cause. Workers are coming on site to fix but no ETA.
Barton Branch Without Power
Published:
Thursday, July 16, 2026 - 6:15pm
Bookmobile Stops Cancelled
Due to poor air quality, Bookmobile will be cancelling all stops today, Thursday, July 16. Regular service is expected to return next week. Thank you for your understanding.
Published:
Thursday, July 16, 2026 - 8:00am
Air Quality Warning
An Orange Air Quality Warning has been initiated for the City of Hamilton by Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks beginning July 15, 2026. This alert will remain in effect until a cancellation notice is issued.
Stay safe, Hamilton. www.hpl.ca/hours
Published:
Wednesday, July 15, 2026 - 2:00pm
HPL Catalogue and Online Resources Not Available - Sunday, July 19
Due to online maintenance, Members can not access HPL's catalogue, online services and resources on Sunday, July 19 from 5am-10am. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
Published:
Monday, July 13, 2026 - 3:00pm
Express Items via OverDrive - Partner Libraries Update
As of July 1st, partner library Members can no longer borrow HPL Express items via Overdrive. More to Borrow partner libraries will be offering Lucky Express (Skip the line) titles to their cardholders only. This will help manage wait times for popular titles. Lucky Express is a collection of in demand titles with a seven-day loan period, available with no wait.
Our partners will still be able to borrow titles from the rest of our collection.
www.hpl.ca/more-to-borrow
Published:
Monday, July 6, 2026 - 10:00am
What's Happening Guide Changes
The What's Happening Guide has been retired and replaced with different communications channels and tactics. You can find the new Summer Reading Flyer here. Watch for future communications updates.
Published:
Monday, June 29, 2026 - 3:00pm
Sunday Hours Return to Central Library
Sunday hours return to Central Library. Beginning July 5, Central is open Noon to 5pm. Dundas, Red Hill, Terryberry, Turner Park, Valley Park and Waterdown branches are also open Sundays, 1 to 5pm. hpl.ca/hours
Published:
Monday, June 29, 2026 - 1:00pm
Study Halls Pause for Summer Break
After Hours Study Hall is not available in July and August. Hours will resume Tuesday, September 8. www.hpl.ca/study-halls
Published:
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 3:00pm
Hamilton Reads Short Story Contest
Presented by McMaster University Libraries, McMaster Office of Community Engagement, Hamilton Public Library and Mohawk College Library.
Deadline: November 1, 2026.
Cost: Free
Prizes: $200 for first place and $100 for two runners-up in each of three categories (college or university student; senior (55+), and HPL Member) with publication of stories on hpl.ca and an invitation to read at Hamilton Reads closing ceremonies.
Theme/Genre: Fictional short stories of 2,000 words or less. Must contain a theme within the Hamilton Reads 2026 book The Migrant Rain Falls in Reverse by Vinh Nguyen or written in any genre of the book.
Eligibility
- Writers must live in the Hamilton Public Library service area. Writers who live in communities with reciprocal borrowing privileges at HPL are not eligible.
- Entries are not returned.
Guidelines
- Unpublished Work: Only unpublished works are accepted. All entrants must submit a piece of writing that has NEVER been published before in any form, including social media, blogs or websites. Entrants may be professional writers; or creative writers who have never had their work published before.
- AI Work: AI-written, supported or generated pieces are not accepted.
- Formatting: Use 12-point standard font (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman) and double-space all pages. Formats may be Word, PDF or plain text.
- Entry Categories: The awards program is open to anyone in the Hamilton Public Library service area and there are three categories of entrants. Entrants may enter one work in one category only. Entrants in each category will be judged within their category and will be able to select their category on the entry form. Categories are:
- College and/or University Student
- Senior (55 +)
- Hamilton Public Library Member (entrants who are not within the above two categories and have a Hamilton Public Library card)
- One entry per entrant: All entrants are invited to submit ONE piece of writing that has NEVER BEEN PUBLISHED BEFORE.
- ‘Blind judging’: Your name must appear ONLY on your entry form, not on the work you submit. Jurors will read the works without knowing the names of the authors.
- Publication Rights: Winning authors agree to have their stories published on hpl.ca. Copyright reverts to the author thereafter.
Prizes
- Prizes are awarded in each category
- In each category: First prize: $200; Two runners-up: $100 each
- Each winner and runner-up will have their story published on hpl.ca and will be invited to read an excerpt from their work at the Hamilton Reads closing ceremony on November 26th, 2026.
All entrants will be notified of the results via email by November 2026.
Judging
Short stories will be judged by a panel of judges from Hamilton Public Library, McMaster University and Mohawk College, as well as local Author Margaret Nowaczyk,MD.
Submissions: Enter online below. The deadline to submit is November 1, 2026 11:59 pm.
