Branch Closures - Thanksgiving

All HPL Branches are closed on Thanksgiving Monday, October 13. Bookmobile is off the road. Extended Access and Study Hall services are not available. Regular service hours resume on Tuesday, October 14. Our Virtual Branch is open at hpl.ca.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, October 6, 2025 - 2:00pm
All Branches Closed for October 12

All branches close on Sunday, October 12, 2025 for Thanksgiving. This includes branches with Extended Access.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, October 6, 2025 - 2:00pm
Freelton Branch - Early Closure

The Branch will close at 1:30pm (instead of 2pm) today, Monday, October 6. Extended Access will begin at 1:30pm. Thank you for your understanding.

Published:
Monday, October 6, 2025 - 12:00pm
Bookmobile Service Modification

Due to the ongoing Mohawk College Support Staff strike, the Bookmobile visit on Monday, October 6, is cancelled. You may select Terryberry Branch as an alternative location to pick up your Holds. On Wednesday, October 8, the Helen Detwiler visit is changed to 11-11:30 am this week. 

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Affected Branch: Bookmobile
Nearest Branches: 
Published:
Friday, September 26, 2025 - 3:00pm
Interlibrary Loan Service on Pause

Interlibrary Loan (ILLO) service will be temporarily paused starting Friday, September 26, due to continued negotiations between CUPW and Canada Post. We apologize for the inconvenience.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Friday, September 26, 2025 - 1:00pm
Replacement and Damage Fees

Bring back your borrowed library items (due Oct 1 or later) within 28 days to avoid a replacement or lost fee. We'll remove the fee when you bring back your overdue items. 

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Thursday, September 11, 2025 - 3:00pm
Kenilworth Branch - Temporary Closure (Sept 2 - Oct 14)

Due to roof repair maintenance, the Branch is temporarily closed from September 2 until October 14. Please visit the Red Hill, Parkdale, and Barton locations as your nearest branches for your library needs. Thank you for your patience.

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Published:
Monday, August 11, 2025 - 8:00am

Steel Town Love - A Festival for Romance Readers and Writers

Steeltown Love

Saturday July 12 
11am-4pm
Central Library  

Hamilton's first festival dedicated to romance novels and the people who love them. 

Join other romance book enthusiasts at Hamilton Public Library for a day of swoon-worthy events, including author talks, signings, workshops, a vendor market and more.  

Register for your all-day pass.

Festival Activities

Reader's Lounge at the Hamilton Farmer's Market
11am - 2pm
Farmer’s Market

Take a break between author panels, browsing and our Meet Cute Market to chill out in our reader's lounge. Head to the Hamilton Farmers' Market to relax, read romance stories, colour, make buttons and chat.

 

The Meet-Cute Market
11am – 3pm
1st Floor Living Room
A curated market for romance readers to shop to their heart's delight.

 

Green Screen Fun - Star in Your Own Romance Book Cover
11am – 3pm
4th Floor Makerspace

Be the star in your own romance book cover using our green screen technology.

 

Cricut Design Space
11am – 3pm
4th Floor Makerspace

Create romance-themed crafts using the Cricut.

 

Epic Books will be selling books at the event on the fourth floor.

Workshops and Author Talks  

Writing Workshop: Farah Heron, Tropes and Vibes to Story and Plot  
11am – Noon  
1st Floor Wentworth Room 

A short-fiction workshop by Farah Heron, author of romance novels Accidentally Engaged, Just Playing House and The Chai Factor. 
Registration Required   

Author Talk: Uzma Jalaluddin in conversation with Farah Heron  
1pm – 2pm 
4th Floor 

The romance authors take readers behind the curtain of the genre they love, to discuss tropes, identities, book boyfriends and cross-genre writing. 

Author Panel: Jackie Lau, Kate Robb and Ellie K. Wilde 
2pm – 3pm  
4th Floor 

A discussion about the rise of the romance genre, favourite tropes to write about and how living in the GTA influences their books. Moderated by Jenn Houser aka @burlingtonbiblio.  

Author Signings
3pm – 4pm 
4th Floor 

Mix and mingle with local romance authors, purchase a copy of their book, and get it autographed.

Warmup Events 

Whet your appetite with meetups and book clubs leading up to the big event.  

Explore Our Romance Novel Collection 

Find your next literary crush with HPL’s romance booklist.