The accessible washroom at Barton Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.
Barton Branch Accessible Washroom Out of Order
Published:
Friday, April 24, 2026 - 12:30pm
April 28: National Day of Mourning
Tuesday, April 28 is the National Day of Mourning to remember and honour those who have died, been injured or suffered illness in the workplace. All HPL Branches will observe a minute of silence at 11am to honour their memories. Please remove your hats and silence your devices out of respect.
Published:
Friday, April 24, 2026 - 12:00pm
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
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
Turner Park - Study Hall Cancellations
Due to maintenance and construction, Study Hall is cancelled on Thursdays, April 16 and 23 (8pm-Midnight). The parking lot will also not be available on Thursday, April 23 (10pm-5am) and Friday, April 24 (10pm-5am). We apologize for the inconvenience.
Published:
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 - 2:30pm
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, March 30-April 27
Starting March 30, renovations for the 2nd floor Central Children's Area will begin. Programs will still be offered as scheduled and there will be 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. Thank you for your patience during this time.
Published:
Monday, March 23, 2026 - 9:00am
Bookmobile Service Modifications
Due to driver availability, Bookmobile is off the road for the following. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Tuesday, April 21
- Greencedar 5:30pm-6:30pm (instead of 4-5pm)
- Mountview 5:30-6:30 pm - Cancelled
Friday, April 24
- Winona 11 am-Noon - Cancelled
- Maplewood 2:30-4 pm - Cancelled
Tuesday, April 28
- McMaster 3:30-4:30 pm - Cancelled
Wednesday, April 29
- Swansea 10-10:30 am - Cancelled
- Helen Detwiler 11 am-Noon - Cancelled
- Warplane Museum 3-4 pm - Cancelled
Published:
Monday, March 16, 2026 - 10:15am
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
April 9, 2025 is National Library Outreach Day.
April 9, 2025 is National Library Outreach Day (formerly National Bookmobile Day).
National Library Outreach Day (formerly National Bookmobile Day) celebrates library outreach and the dedicated Library professionals who are meeting their Members where they are.
Whether it's a bookmobile visit at the local elementary school, services provided to community homes, or library pop-ups at community gatherings, library services are essential to the Hamilton community. Each year, National Library Outreach Day is celebrated on the Wednesday of National Library Week.
Our Library on wheels is a very special and unique part of HPL’s public services, allowing Staff to go beyond the brick and mortar and connect with our many surrounding communities in the city of Hamilton.
The first time there was a mention of having a travelling branch for the Hamilton Public Library was in an article in The Globe & Mail dated November 16, 1949.
Then Chief Librarian Freda Waldon mentioned the idea of having a travelling Branch whose chief function was to serve outlying areas beyond a one-mile radius from existing Library branches. It wasn’t until May 7, 1954, that talks of a possible bookmobile were discussed in the city council.
Two years later, on December 20, 1956, the first Bookmobile rolled onto the streets of Hamilton. In a Hamilton Spectator article dated January 5, 1957, they talked about how the five (5) stops of the Bookmobile were so popular among the children, citing the example of one boy who went back five times, each time bringing someone with him and encouraging them to register for a Library card. Another proof of the Bookmobile’s popularity was its February 1957 circulation exceeding that of the Main Library’s circulation.
Today, Hamilton Public Library visits many communities throughout the week, as well as festivals and events throughout the year. Check the Bookmobile at one of its many visits in your local neighbourhood.
To celebrate Hamilton's Library on wheels, download, print, decorate, fold and glue the HPL Bookmobile Paper Craft.
