Printing is not working at Ancaster Branch. We aim to fix it as soon as possible.
Printing Unavailable at Ancaster Branch
Published:
Thursday, April 30, 2026 - 5:30pm
Sherwood Branch Accessible Washroom Out of Order
The accessible washroom at Sherwood Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.
Published:
Thursday, April 30, 2026 - 3:45pm
Central Library: Non-Partner Survey
Starting Monday, April 27 until May 4, non-partner community organizations are encouraged to participate in a short survey. HPL would like to learn how the Library Card Access Pilot Project and the toxic drug crisis in general affect non-partner organizations. Please note that the survey is not anonymous. Start now at www.hpl.ca/non-partner-survey.
Published:
Monday, April 27, 2026 - 9:30am
Software Maintenance - Victoria Day, Monday, May 18
Due to software maintenance, HPL library's catalogue, online services and library accounts will not be available between 9am and 7pm on Monday, May 18. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Friday, April 24, 2026 - 9:00am
Central Library - Fire Drill, Tuesday, May 5, 11am
Due to Staff training, Central Library will close from 11am to Noon on Tuesday, May 5. You may visit Locke and Barton Branches as the next nearest locations for your library needs. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Thursday, April 23, 2026 - 9:00am
Concession Branch - Renovations Underway
Renovations are expected to be completed by May 7. Construction repairs and noise may impact your next visit. Thank you for your understanding.
Published:
Monday, April 13, 2026 - 1:15pm
Mount Hope Branch - Delayed Opening, Monday, May 4
Due to Staff training, Mount Hope Branch will have a delayed opening of 2 pm on Monday, May 4. You may visit Turner Park Branch as the next nearest location for your library needs. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Friday, March 27, 2026 - 8:00am
Central Library: Children's Area Renovation on 2nd Floor
Renovations are currently underway for the 2nd floor Central Children's Area. Programs are still being offered as scheduled and there is a temporary pop-up Children’s Area on the northeast side of the 2nd floor (near the Piano Room), including access to collections and train tables. Construction is expected to be completed by late Spring. Thank you for your patience during this time.
Published:
Monday, March 23, 2026 - 9:00am
Sherwood Branch: Renovations
As of Monday, March 2, Sherwood Branch's 2nd floor is closed due to renovations. Makerspace, Children and Teen's collection are temporarily available on the 1st floor. All programs will be held in the basement program room. Renovations are expected to be completed in late Spring. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 1:00pm
Hamilton Reads Short Story Contest
Presented by McMaster University Libraries, McMaster Office of Community Engagement, Hamilton Public Library and Mohawk College Library.
Deadline: November 1, 2026.
Cost: Free
Prizes: $200 for first place and $100 for two runners-up in each of three categories (college or university student; senior (55+), and HPL Member) with publication of stories on hpl.ca and an invitation to read at Hamilton Reads closing ceremonies.
Theme/Genre: Fictional short stories of 2,000 words or less. Must contain a theme within the Hamilton Reads 2026 book The Migrant Rain Falls in Reverse by Vinh Nguyen or written in any genre of the book.
Eligibility
- Writers must live in the Hamilton Public Library service area. Writers who live in communities with reciprocal borrowing privileges at HPL are not eligible.
- Entries are not returned.
Guidelines
- Unpublished Work: Only unpublished works are accepted. All entrants must submit a piece of writing that has NEVER been published before in any form, including social media, blogs or websites. Entrants may be professional writers; or creative writers who have never had their work published before.
- AI Work: AI-written, supported or generated pieces are not accepted.
- Formatting: Use 12-point standard font (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman) and double-space all pages. Formats may be Word, PDF or plain text.
- Entry Categories: The awards program is open to anyone in the Hamilton Public Library service area and there are three categories of entrants. Entrants may enter one work in one category only. Entrants in each category will be judged within their category and will be able to select their category on the entry form. Categories are:
- College and/or University Student
- Senior (55 +)
- Hamilton Public Library Member (entrants who are not within the above two categories and have a Hamilton Public Library card)
- One entry per entrant: All entrants are invited to submit ONE piece of writing that has NEVER BEEN PUBLISHED BEFORE.
- ‘Blind judging’: Your name must appear ONLY on your entry form, not on the work you submit. Jurors will read the works without knowing the names of the authors.
- Publication Rights: Winning authors agree to have their stories published on hpl.ca. Copyright reverts to the author thereafter.
Prizes
- Prizes are awarded in each category
- In each category: First prize: $200; Two runners-up: $100 each
- Each winner and runner-up will have their story published on hpl.ca and will be invited to read an excerpt from their work at the Hamilton Reads closing ceremony on November 26th, 2026.
All entrants will be notified of the results via email by November 2026.
Judging
Short stories will be judged by a panel of judges from Hamilton Public Library, McMaster University and Mohawk College, as well as a local author.
Submissions: Enter online below. The deadline to submit is November 1, 2026 11:59 pm.
