From March 23 until April 12, Valley Park Community Centre will be closed for renovations, reopening April 13. Pool and changerooms will remain closed until early summer 2026.
Valley Park Branch will remain open during the renovations for your library needs.
Filming will take place Mar 3-4, 7am to 11pm, at 1464 Centre Rd. This may impact traffic flow in the surrounding area.
The accessibility door at Carlisle Branch is not working. We aim to fix it quickly.
Renovation preparations are underway in anticipation of the March 2 start. Computer availability may be limited. Living Room and Makerspace areas are closed. (The next nearest Makerspaces are Sherwood and Terryberry Branches.) Renovations are expected to be completed in late Spring. Thank you for your patience.
Renovation preparations are underway in anticipation of the March 2 start. Starting the week of February 23, the 2nd Floor will be closed. The Children's collection will be temporarily available on the 1st Floor. Renovations are expected to be completed in late Spring. Thank you for your patience.
Starting Tuesday February 10, the First Floor Living Room is closed due to renovation preparations. Study and work spaces are available on Floors 2-4. Thank you for your patience.
Please note the following Bookmobile visit updates.
Friday, February 27
Winona 11:00am-12:00pm - Cancelled
Maplewood 2:30-4:00pm - Cancelled
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.
Live Music Throughout February
Enjoy live music at branches across the city as part of Black History Month. Performances take place at Central Library and neighbourhood branches, featuring a range of artists and styles.
Noon Hour Concerts at Central Library
Listen to live music every Friday at noon:
Live Music at Branches
Author Talk: Antonio Michael Downing
Thursday February 19, 2026
6:30pm–7:30pm, Central Library
Join award-winning writer and broadcaster Antonio Michael Downing for a live reading and conversation about his debut novel Black Cherokee. Downing will be joined by editor and writer Alicia Cox Thomson for a discussion followed by audience questions. Borrow the book from the HPL catalogue and be part of the conversation.
African Knowledge in Action with Michelle Bonsu
Saturday February 28
1:00pm–3:00pm, Central Library
Explore African knowledge systems in this interactive, conversation-based workshop with Michelle Bonsu. Learn about the differences between African and Western ways of knowing and how African wisdom can be applied to everyday life. Michelle Bonsu is a Ghanaian cultural worker and the creator of Asase Ba, an educational platform celebrating African stories and knowledge.
See our complete list of Black History Month Events.
Celebrate Black voices all year through HPL’s collections of books, music, movies and educational activities.
Books for Adults
Film
The 2026 honorees are Ona Allen (1925-2025), Hamilton's first Black nurse, who worked for nearly four decades at Hamilton General Hospital. Dr. Anthony MacFarlane (1937-2025) was a physician, scholar and champion of Caribbean history. Learn more about the 19 past honorees' impacts on the City of Hamilton’s Black History Month webpage. The Hamilton Black History Council, in partnership with Black-led organizations and the City of Hamilton, recognize Black Hamiltonians for their outstanding contributions.
