New Loan Periods - Effective Monday, August 31

As of Monday, August 31, new loan periods will come into effect to shorten the wait time for popular hold items.

DVD Express - 3 days

DVDs and Blu-rays - 7 days (fiction, children's and languages) 

Magazines - 7 days

Bestseller Express - 14 days

DVDs and Blu-rays - 14 days (non-fiction and TV series)

Books - 21 days

Music/Books on CD and Children's Express - 21 days

Please visit www.hpl.ca/borrowing for more details.

Published:
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 - 2:30pm
Express Items via OverDrive - Partner Libraries Update

As of July 1, Partner Library Members can no longer borrow HPL Express items via OverDrive. More to Borrow partner libraries offer Lucky Express (Skip the Line) titles to their cardholders only. This helps manage wait times for popular titles. Lucky Express is a collection of in-demand titles with a seven-day loan and no wait time. 

Partner Library Members can borrow titles from the main collection. 
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

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

1000 Books to Read

About the Program

1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a free and flexible early literacy program for babies, toddlers and their caregivers. The goal of the program is to read 1000 Books to your child before they enter school. 1000 books may sound like a lot—especially for folks with little ones—but:

  • Three books a day for 1 year = 1095 books 
  • One book a day for 3 years = 1095 books

You are likely doing this already and using the tracker will make it even more fun and motivating for you and your child as you track your reading progress and your child’s milestones.

How Does it Work?

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3! 

  1. Visit any of our 23 branches or Bookmobiles to register and pick up your tracker. All you need is an HPL Library Card (we can create one for you).  
     
  2. Read and Track: Every time you read a book with your child, colour in a star on your tracker. Read, colour, and repeat until you’ve reached 1000 books! 
     
    Listened to a book together? Attended a storytime? Read the same book 5 times? They all count towards your 1000 books. 
     
  3. Celebrate!  Bring your tracker to any HPL location to collect a Milestone Certificate at 100, 250, 500 and 750 books and your certificate of completion at 1000 books!