Intermittent Internet Outages

The internet at All Branches is not fully operational. We aim to have it fixed quickly.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Saturday, November 8, 2025 - 9:15am
Concession Branch: Children's Area Renovations

Concession Branch's children area is closed for renovations. Please use the temporary space. Public computers are also affected. There are currently three available. We aim to have the branch back in order as soon as possible.

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Published:
Friday, November 7, 2025 - 9:30am
Odour at Carlisle Branch

Members visiting the Carlisle Branch may notice an unpleasant odour. We are working to identify the source and hope to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

Published:
Thursday, November 6, 2025 - 5:30pm
Network Maintenance - Wednesday, November 12

HPL's WiFi, Catalogue and online resources will undergo network maintenance on Wednesday, November 12 from 5-8am. We apologize for the inconvenience.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Thursday, November 6, 2025 - 8:00am
Kenilworth Branch Reopening

Noise and limited parking continue at the Kenilworth Branch this week as renovations wrap up. Thank you for your understanding.

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Published:
Monday, October 27, 2025 - 3:00pm
Delayed Branch Openings 

The following locations have upcoming delayed openings due to Staff training drills. 

Monday, November 10 
Concession Branch, 10am

Thursday, November 13
Binbrook Branch, 10am

Friday, November 14
Valley Park Branch, 10am

Monday, November 24
Mount Hope, 2pm

Thursday, November 27
Stoney Creek, 10am

You may visit nearby Branches for your library needs. www.hpl.ca/hours

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 - 2:00pm
Replacement and Damage Fees

Bring back your borrowed library items (due Oct 1 or later) within 28 days to avoid a replacement or lost fee. We'll remove the fee when you bring back your overdue items. 

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Thursday, September 11, 2025 - 3:00pm

Spectator Collection Antiquarian Photographs

Introduction

Forty original photographs (most late 19th or early 20th century) of Hamilton and area were transferred from the Spectator Library to Special Collections [now Local History & Archives] in 1990. They have all been copied by the Hamilton Public Library photographer and (with 5 exceptions) identified, mounted and added to the Picture Collection under the following headings. The number after the heading refers to the Local History & Archives negative number.

The original photographs are in storage.

Headings

Hamilton - Schools - Queen Victoria School (#02528)

Hamilton - Streets - King Street East (Photographer Lyonde) (#02529)

Hamilton - Storms - 1898 (Main & Hughson Streets: Photographer G. Lees) (#02530)

Hamilton - Canals - Desjardins Canal (Photographer: Lyonde) (#02531)

Hamilton - Harbour (#02532)

Hamilton - Hospitals - Ontario Hospital (Photographer: William Farmer) (#02533)

Hamilton - Schools - Central School (#02534)

Hamilton - Parks - Ainslie's Woods (Photographer: Lyonde) (#02535)

Hamilton - Churches - All Saints Church (#02536)

Hamilton - Churches - St. Thomas Anglican Church (#02537)

Hamilton - Churches - Macnab Street Presbyterian Church (corner Macnab and Jackson Streets before the Sunday School was built) (#02538)

Hamilton - Schools - Murray Street School (#02539)

Hamilton - Hospitals - General Hospital (#02540)

Hamilton - Hospitals - Ontario Hospital (#02541)

Hamilton - Hotels - Ocean House (#02542)

Hamilton - Hospitals - General Hospital (#02543)

Hamilton - Hospitals - Ontario Hospital (Photographer: William Farmer, 1889) (#02544)

Hamilton - Incline Railways - Hamilton & Barton Incline Railway (#02545)

Hamilton - Industries - Sanford, W.E. Manufacturing Co. (#02546)

Hamilton - Cemeteries - Hamilton Cemetery (#02547)

Hamilton - Roads - Mountain Roads - Beckett Drive (#02548)

Hamilton - Schools - Cannon Street School (Photographer: William Farmer, 1889) (#02549)

Hamilton - Canals - Burlington Canal (Ocean House in background) (#02550)

Hamilton - Militia - Drill Hall (Photographer: William Farmer, 1889) (#02551)

Hamilton - Churches - All Saints Church (#02552)

Hamilton - Canals - Burlington Canal (#02553)

Hamilton - Schools - Hess Street School (Photographer: William Farmer, 1889)

Hamilton - Libraries - Hamilton Public Library (1890-1913) (#02555)

Hamilton - Storms - 1898 (Main Street West. Photographer: G. Lees) (#02556)

Hamilton - Organizations & Societies - Royal Hamilton Yacht Club (Photographer: C.S. Cochran) (#02557)

Hamilton - Historic Houses - Balquihidder [the photograph is actually of Wesanford] (#02558)

Unidentified lady with cello (Photographer: Lyonde) (#02559)

Hamilton - Organizations & Societies - Royal Templars of Temperance (James Street North at the north-west corner of Vine St.) (#02560)

Hamilton - School - Picton School (The corner of a shack adjoining to the east is a builder's convenience while St. Lawrence Church is being erected. Photographer: William Farmer) (#02561)

Hamilton - Schools - Collegiate Institute (Opened 1866 as Grammar School and changed in 1871 to High School and then Collegiate Institute. 1899 renovated and re-opened as Caroline Street Public School. 1930 Caroline Street Pre-Vocational School then Boy's Handicraft School. 1941 renamed F.W. McBeth School for Boys then closed. 1948 expropriated. 1949 razed) (#02562)

Hamilton - Churches - St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church (#02563)

Hamilton - Schools - Ryerson School (#02564)

Waterfall (#02565)

Waterfall (#02566)

Waterfall (#02567)