From Thursday, September 11, until 5 am on Monday, September 15, road closures for SuperCrawl will be in effect in and around James Street North from King to Wilson/York to Cannon to Barton Street. Additional closures will take place on King William, Rebecca, Vine, Mulberry, Colbourne and Murray Streets. If you are planning to visit Central Library over the next few days, we suggest taking HSR for a convenient route to downtown Hamilton. www.hpl.ca/central
SuperCrawl - Road Closures near Central Library
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Published:
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 - 10:30am
Central Library - Fourth Floor Temporary Closure
Central Library's Fourth Floor is closed on Tuesday, September 16, from Noon to 6 pm due to a special event. Makerspace and Newcomer Learning Centre will remain open. Floors 1-3 are available as study and work spaces. www.hpl.ca/central
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Published:
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 - 10:00am
Bookmobile Service Modifications
Huntington Park is discontinued effective after tomorrow, Friday, September 5 (11 am-noon). A new, nearby bi-weekly Bookmobile site at The Court at Rushdale (1360 Upper Sherman Ave) will start on Friday, September 19 (11 am-noon).
Queen Victoria Elementary School will now visit from 3-4 pm (instead of 3:30-4:30 pm
Published:
Thursday, September 4, 2025 - 1:30pm
Study Halls Return September 2
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 Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 - 2:15pm
Kenilworth Branch - Temporary Closure (Sept 2 - Oct 10)
Due to roof repair maintenance, the Branch is temporarily closed from September 2 until October 10. Please visit the Red Hill, Parkdale, and Barton locations as your nearest branches for your library needs. On August 28-29, there may be some noise disruptions and limited parking spots while the roof repair set-up begins. Thank you for your patience.
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Published:
Monday, August 11, 2025 - 8:00am
Fright Fest
Uncover the eerie, explore the uncanny, and celebrate all things spooky this fall at Hamilton Public Library. From Gothic art and haunted history to horror writing, tarot, crafts and classic films, HPL is your destination for spine-tingling stories and hair-raising happenings.
Explore the full schedule.
Dare to join us. If you’re brave enough.
Books and Writing
Horror Writing Workshops
Various Dates and Locations
Sharpen your storytelling in horror-themed writing sessions with local authors, including a special event with HPL’s 2024-25 Writer-in-Residence, Anna Chatterton.
Register
Horror Panel with Emily Kellogg, Andrew F. Sullivan, Ai Jiang, and Emily A. Weedon
Thursday, October 2: 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Central Library
Emily Kellogg leads a panel conversation with authors Andrew F. Sullivan, Ai Jiang, and Emily A. Weedon.
Register
Hamilton Screams Online Book Club – The Troop by Nick Cutter
Tuesday, October 28: 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Virtual Branch – Online
Read and discuss our 2025 Hamilton Screams title with author Nick Cutter, Team HPL and fellow book lovers.
Register
Spooky Storytelling and Tours
Ghost Walks
Dundas Branch and Central Library
Unearth Hamilton’s haunted past with tales of spirits and supernatural sightings in our city’s oldest buildings and neighbourhoods.
Register
Mysticism and Magic
Tarot Readings for All
Various Dates and Locations
Whether you're a curious teen or an intrigued adult, learn the basics of tarot or explore deeper techniques to unlock the wisdom of the cards.
Register Now
Festival Highlights
Rocky Horror 50th Anniversary Extravaganza
Thursday, October 30: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Central Library
Let’s do the time warp again! Celebrate five decades of The Rocky Horror Picture Show with a special screening and themed activities.
Register
Escape the Haunted Library
Thursday, October 30: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Turner Park Branch
A teen escape room experience. Do you have what it takes to make it out in time?
Register
Haunted Escape Room
Thursday, October 30: 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Saltfleet
Follow the clues to rescue your favourite character from the Haunted Library.
Register
Arts and Creativity
Explore Art at HPL
Various Dates and Locations
This fall, art takes a darker turn. Join us to delve into:
• Gothic Art
• Myth, Monster, and Familiar
• Surreal and Dreamlike Horror
• Silhouette and Shadow Art
Get spooky with hands-on Halloween crafts. From book art and yarn pumpkins to eerie lanterns and book page vases, these sessions offer a creative outlet with a creepy twist.
Learn More
Frightening Films
Various Dates and Locations
Get into the Halloween spirit with free screenings of spooky favourites like Coraline, ParaNorman, What We Do in the Shadows, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Haunted Mansion and more.
Learn More
