The computer lab on the 1st floor at the Sherwood Branch is currently out of order. There are limited public computers available on the 2nd floor. Printing and photocopying is still available. We are working to resolve as soon as possible.
Due to day-long IT maintenance (7am-5pm), the following branches are closed on Sunday, June 22: Central Library, Dundas, Red Hill, Terryberry, Turner Park, Valley Park and Waterdown. Sunday service hours resume on Sunday, June 29.
Please note that the HPL catalogue, Library accounts, and online resources will not be available during this time frame. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Due to Staff training, the Westdale Branch will open at 10am on Monday, June 16. You may visit Central Library and the Dundas Branch as your next nearest locations for your library needs. Thank you for your patience.
The accessible washroom at Red Hill Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.
The parking lot elevator at Terryberry Branch is not working. Members will need to use the accessible ramp at the Mohawk entrance and the inner elevator. We're working to get it fixed quickly.
Please note that the audio volume levels on our public computers are having issues. The estimated time of disruption is unknown at this time. Thank you for your patience.
As the 1st floor renovation wraps up, the Sherwood Branch will be closed on Thursday, June 5, to reset the spaces. Service hours will resume on Friday, June 6. Thank you for your patience.
The accessibility ramp at Mount Hope Branch is damaged. The handrail is not available. The ramp will not be available while being repaired. We aim to fix it quickly.
Due to the ongoing roof repair project, noise and parking disruptions are expected to continue until the end of June. Thank you for your patience.
The digital microfilm machines at Central Library are not working. A single analog machine is available, but it doesn't print. We aim to have the digital devices repaired as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Please be aware of online phishing attempts impersonating Hamilton Public Library and Library Staff. HPL does not solicit paid freelance opportunities through social media or other messaging applications. HPL does not request personal or banking information through social media or require financial compensation when reviewing job applications. Please report phishing schemes to communications@hpl.ca. If you think you are a victim of fraud, please call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
April 9, 2025 is National Library Outreach Day.
April 9, 2025 is National Library Outreach Day (formerly National Bookmobile Day).
National Library Outreach Day (formerly National Bookmobile Day) celebrates library outreach and the dedicated Library professionals who are meeting their Members where they are.
Whether it's a bookmobile visit at the local elementary school, services provided to community homes, or library pop-ups at community gatherings, library services are essential to the Hamilton community. Each year, National Library Outreach Day is celebrated on the Wednesday of National Library Week.
Our Library on wheels is a very special and unique part of HPL’s public services, allowing Staff to go beyond the brick and mortar and connect with our many surrounding communities in the city of Hamilton.
The first time there was a mention of having a travelling branch for the Hamilton Public Library was in an article in The Globe & Mail dated November 16, 1949.
Then Chief Librarian Freda Waldon mentioned the idea of having a travelling Branch whose chief function was to serve outlying areas beyond a one-mile radius from existing Library branches. It wasn’t until May 7, 1954, that talks of a possible bookmobile were discussed in the city council.
Two years later, on December 20, 1956, the first Bookmobile rolled onto the streets of Hamilton. In a Hamilton Spectator article dated January 5, 1957, they talked about how the five (5) stops of the Bookmobile were so popular among the children, citing the example of one boy who went back five times, each time bringing someone with him and encouraging them to register for a Library card. Another proof of the Bookmobile’s popularity was its February 1957 circulation exceeding that of the Main Library’s circulation.
Today, Hamilton Public Library visits many communities throughout the week, as well as festivals and events throughout the year. Check the Bookmobile at one of its many visits in your local neighbourhood.
To celebrate Hamilton's Library on wheels, download, print, decorate, fold and glue the HPL Bookmobile Paper Craft.