The Medical Officer of Health for the City of Hamilton is issuing a Cold Weather Alert effective overnight tonight, Tuesday, February 3. A Cold Weather Alert is issued when current or anticipated weather conditions are at or below -15C or -20C with wind chill. This alert will remain in effect until a cancellation notice is issued. Please visit www.hamilton.ca/cold for locations and resources to stay warm and safe.
All HPL Branches are Warm Places during our open service hours. www.hpl.ca/hours
The Fourth Floor will be closed on Friday, February 6, starting at 2 pm for Seedy Saturday event setup. Makerspace and Newcomer Learning Centre will remain open. Floors 1-3 are available with study and work spaces. www.hpl.ca/central
The accessibility door at Red Hill Branch is not working. We aim to fix it quickly.
Please note the following Bookmobile visit updates.
Tuesday, February 3
Greencedar (4-5 pm) - Cancelled
Thursday, February 5
Rockton (10:30-11:30 am) - Cancelled
Bennetto Visit will be 5-5:30 pm (instead of 4-5:30 pm)
Tuesday, February 10
McMaster University will be 3:30-4 pm (instead of 3:30-4:30 pm
Greencedar will be 5-5:30 pm (instead of 4-5 pm)
Mountview will be 6-6:30 pm (instead of 5:30-6:30 pm)
On Monday, February 9, Homestead Drive will be closed from 7:30am-1:30pm (local traffic only) due to filming. From 1:30-7:30pm, there will be intermittent traffic control by Hamilton Police. The Branch will remain open. Thank you for your patience.
The accessible washroom at Carlisle Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.
Effective Sunday, February 1, Sunday service hours at Central Library will be paused.
Sunday Hours will continue at Dundas, Red Hill, Terryberry, Turner Park, Valley Park and Waterdown Branches from 1-5pm.
Starting Monday, February 2, Central Library's daily hours will move back to a 9 am opening instead of 8 am, Monday through Saturday. Please make note of this new service change for your next visit. www.hpl.ca/hours
The following eResources have been recently discontinued in our HPL collections: Novelist, Summa, Summa Kids, and Northstar Digital Literacy. Please visit www.hpl.ca/articles/read-watch-listen for our full listing of online resources for your next read, watch, listen and/or learn.
Daily print balances for black and white and colour printing change January 2, 2026. The new daily print balance is 40 cents. Members receive four free black and white copies or two free colour copies.
Large format and vinyl printing pricing also change on January 2. Visit https://www.hpl.ca/makerspaces for updates.
Bring back your borrowed library items within 28 days to avoid a replacement or lost fee. We'll remove the fee when you bring back your overdue items.
Hamilton Public Library has several formal reciprocal borrowing agreements with neighbouring municipalities. Reciprocal borrowing agreements require library board approval. Individuals from outside of Hamilton require a valid library card from a participating library system, along with identification showing their name and address. This card may be used to borrow, but a Hamilton Public Library card is not issued.
Participating Systems:
Staff employed by a Hamilton daycare center, institution, school, corporation, business, government agency, association, charitable and non-profit organization or group home may apply for a Community card.
A special application form must be completed for this category of library membership. A Community card application requires the signature of an executive or administrator who is authorized to accept financial responsibility for the organization. In the case of schools, the application needs to be signed by the principal. These specialty cards carry additional conditions:
Library registration is carried out in accordance with the Privacy Policy for Library Members [3], which provides full information about the collection and use of personal information.
Library cardholders receive notifications regarding their borrowing from the Library. Members are notified by email or automated telephone calls/voicemail messages regarding items that are overdue or are on hold and ready to be picked up. Members who provide an email address, will additionally, receive emails about items that will be automatically renewed or are coming due. If members prefer not to receive library notifications and opt to manage their borrowed materials, this can be requested.
Inactive cards are deleted on a four (4) year cycle.
Signing the library card implies the card holder’s acceptance of and adherence to rules and regulations of Hamilton Public Library. All card holders are responsible for:
Card holders also authorize the Library to collect personal information for the purpose of providing service.
Verification: Discovery and Inspire card holders are required to verify their contact information every three (3) years. Non-Resident, Reciprocal, Community Cards require annual verification.
A valid Hamilton Public Library card is required to borrow materials. Loan periods vary based on the materials borrowed and the type of Library card used to borrow materials. Loan periods also vary when borrowing Makerspace items or technology equipment.
Staff can offer extended loans to 21-day loan material, excluding new or requested items (items “on hold” for another customer). The maximum due date can be extended up to the maximum renewal limit for the item (i.e. up to twelve (12) weeks from the date of original check out). The Manager may impose restrictions on the number of items that can be extended.
