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
All HPL Branches are closed Sunday, August 30, and Labour Day, Monday, September 1st. Bookmobile is off the road, and Extended Access is not available. Regular service hours resume on Tuesday, September 2. www.hpl.ca/hours
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.
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 Parkdale and Barton locations as your nearest branches for your library needs. Thank you for your understanding.
2025-26 Writer in Residence
Meet Saumiya Balasubramaniam
Saumiya Balasubramaniam is the 2025-26 Writer in Residence. During her eight-month stint, September 2025-April 2026, she will mentor creative writers in the Hamilton community, providing feedback on submissions in one-on-one meetings.
She writes poetry, essays, features and award-nominated picture books for children, such as When I Found Grandma, Two Drops of Brown in a Cloud of White and When I Visited Grandma.
Her debut picture book, When I Found Grandma, which was published in 2019, was listed in the Globe and Mail’s seven books to help kids make sense of the world list in 2019. It was nominated for the 2020 Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award and won the 2019 Spirituality and Practice Award.
Balasubramaniam’s books have been featured in CBC’s best Canadian picture books, top books to look out for, and the Toronto Public Library’s top five picks of the year.
Her works have been translated into French and Swedish.
Welcome Reception
Meet Saumiya at Central Library and learn more about the Writer-in-Residence program. This event is open to the public.
Thursday September 11
6:30 to 8:00 pm
Central Library, Hamilton Room
55 York Blvd., Hamilton
Schedule an Appointment
Creative writers in the Hamilton community who would like one-on-one input, either in-person or virtually, are welcome to book a 45-minute appointment, one consultation per term, with Saumiya at Hamilton Public Library (Fridays) or McMaster University (Mondays). Schedule an Appointment.
Writing Workshop - Picture Book Master Class
Saturday October 4 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Central Library; Hamilton Room
A workshop facilitated by the 2025-26 Writer-in-Residence, Saumiya Balasubramaniam. Register Now
More about Saumiya: saumiyabooks.com
About the Mable Pugh Taylor Writer in Residence Program: english.humanities.mcmaster.ca/mabel-pugh-taylor-writer-in-residence