Heat Warning for the City of Hamilton.
Significant heat and humidity will arrive on Tuesday June 30.
For information about heat-related illnesses, cool place locations and reducing your risk, visit hamilton.ca.
Heat Warning Notification for the City of Hamilton
Published:
Tuesday, June 30, 2026 - 9:00am
What's Happening Guide Changes
The What's Happening Guide has been retired and replaced with different communications channels and tactics. You can find the new Summer Reading Flyer here. Watch for future communications updates.
Published:
Monday, June 29, 2026 - 3:00pm
Sunday Hours Return to Central Library
Starting July 5, Central Library will be open on Sundays from Noon to 5 pm. www.hpl.ca/central
Published:
Monday, June 29, 2026 - 1:00pm
Red Hill Branch Accessible Ramp Not Available
The accessibility ramp at Red Hill Branch is not working. We aim to fix it quickly.
Published:
Monday, June 29, 2026 - 9:45am
Carlisle Branch Accessible Door Out of Order
The accessibility door at Carlisle Branch is not working. We aim to fix it quickly.
Published:
Thursday, June 25, 2026 - 2:45pm
Study Halls Pause for Summer Break
The last day of Study Hall is Thursday, June 25. The service will resume on Tuesday, September 8. www.hpl.ca/study-halls
Published:
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 3:00pm
Canada Day Closure - All Branches
All HPL Branches are closed on Canada Day, Wednesday, July 1st. Bookmobile is off the road and Extended Access is unavailable. Regular service hours resume on Thursday, July 2. Our Virtual Branch is open at hpl.ca. www.hpl.ca/hours
Published:
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 3:00pm
Construction work at Barton Branch
The entrance to the Barton Branch parking lot off of Milton St. is currently inaccessible due to construction. The parking lot can still be accessed via the alley off Fullerton St. during this time.
Published:
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 - 9:15am
Phishing Scheme
Please be aware of online phishing attempts impersonating Hamilton Public Library and Library Staff. HPL does not solicit paid freelance opportunities through social media or other messaging applications. HPL does not request personal or banking information through social media or require financial compensation when reviewing job applications. Please report phishing schemes to communications@hpl.ca. If you think you are a victim of fraud, please call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
Published:
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 - 5:00am
Bookmobile Service Modification
Due to Driver availability, Bookmobile has the following schedule modifications for the month of June. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Bookmobile Service June Modifications
Tuesday, June 30:
- Greencedar - Cancelled
- Mountview - Cancelled
Wed, July 1:
- Library Closed - All Stops Cancelled
Thurs, July 2:
-
Rockton Cancelled
-
Mohawk Gardens Cancelled
-
Meadowlands Cancelled
Fri, July 3:
-
Winona Cancelled
-
Queen Victoria Cancelled
Mon, July 6:
-
Special Event - All Stops Cancelled
Published:
Friday, May 22, 2026 - 12:00pm
Writer in Residence
Authors Lisa Richter, Elizabeth Ruth and Lisa Ko are the next three Mabel Pugh Taylor Writers in Residence.
Lisa’s term begins this September and runs until April 2027.
Elizabeth follows in 2027-2028 and then Lisa in 2028-2029.
The residency allows authors time to work on their craft and mentor creative writers at the university and in the Hamilton community through one-on-one consultations.
The program is a collaboration with HPL, McMaster’s Department of English and Cultural Studies and the McMaster University Library. It is named for Mabel Pugh Taylor, who graduated from McMaster in 1922 – the first woman in her family to attend university.
Lisa Richter - Writer in Residence, 2026-2027
Photo by Kenzie Allen
Lisa is an award-winning poet, writer and educator who has written three books of poetry: Closer to Where We Began, Nautilus and Bone, which won the Canadian Jewish Literary Award for Poetry in 2021.
Her poetry is published in literary journals and anthologies, including Best Canadian Poetry, The Fiddlehead, The Malahat Review, The New Quarterly, and Locations of Grief.
Details about Lisa’s office hours at McMaster and HPL will be available soon.
Elizabeth Ruth - Writer in Residence, 2027-2028
Photo by Samuel Engelking
Elizabeth is the author of the novels Ten Good Seconds of Silence, Smoke, Matadora, and Semi-Detached, as well as a collection of poetry, This Report Is Strictly Confidential.
Her work was recognized by the Writers’ Trust of Canada Fiction Prize, the City of Toronto Book Award, the Amazon First Novel Award and One Book One Community.
She is also the author of a plain-language novella for adult literacy learners, Love You to Death, and the editor of the anthology, Bent on Writing: Contemporary Queer Tales.
Lisa Ko – Writer in Residence 2028-29
Photo by Juliana Sohn
Lisa is the author of Memory Piece and the national bestselling novel The Leavers, which was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction and the PEN/Hemingway Award. She also won the PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction in 2016.
Her writing has appeared in Best American Short Stories, McSweeney’s and The Believer.
