The Medical Officer of Health for the City of Hamilton is issuing a Cold Weather Alert effective tonight, Friday, February 6. A Cold Weather Alert is issued when current or anticipated weather conditions are at or below minus 15 degrees Celsius or minus 20 with wind chill. This alert will remain in effect until a cancellation notice is issued. Please visit www.hamilton.ca/cold for locations and resources to stay warm and safe.
Cold Alert - Warming Places
Published:
Friday, February 6, 2026 - 2:45pm
Central Library - Living Room Renovation Preparation
Starting Tuesday, February 10, the First Floor Living Room will be unavailable due to renovation preparations. Study and work spaces are available on Floors 2-3.
Please note the Noon Hour Concert on Friday, February 13, will be held at Terryberry Branch instead.
Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Friday, February 6, 2026 - 9:00am
Central Library - Fourth Floor Closure
The Fourth Floor will be closed on Friday, February 6, starting at 2 pm for Seedy Saturday event setup. Makerspace and Newcomer Learning Centre will remain open. Floors 1-3 are available with study and work spaces. www.hpl.ca/central
Published:
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 - 3:00pm
Red Hill Branch Accessible Door Out of Order
The accessibility door at Red Hill Branch is not working. We aim to fix it quickly.
Published:
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 - 1:30pm
Bookmobile Service Modification
Please note the following Bookmobile visit updates.
Tuesday, February 10
McMaster University will be 3:30-4 pm (instead of 3:30-4:30 pm
Greencedar will be 5-5:30 pm (instead of 4-5 pm)
Mountview will be 6-6:30 pm (instead of 5:30-6:30 pm)
Published:
Monday, February 2, 2026 - 3:15pm
Mount Hope - Filming
On Monday, February 9, Homestead Drive will be closed from 7:30am-1:30pm (local traffic only) due to filming. From 1:30-7:30pm, there will be intermittent traffic control by Hamilton Police. The Branch will remain open. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Friday, January 30, 2026 - 1:45pm
Carlisle Branch Accessible Washroom Out of Order
The accessible washroom at Carlisle Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.
Published:
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - 12:30pm
Central Library - Sunday Hours Paused
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.
Published:
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - 11:00am
Central Library - Daily Hours Update
Starting Monday, February 2, Central Library's daily hours will move back to a 9 am opening instead of 8 am, Monday through Saturday. Please make note of this new service change for your next visit. www.hpl.ca/hours
Published:
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - 11:00am
Printing Updates
Daily print balances for black and white and colour printing change January 2, 2026. The new daily print balance is 40 cents. Members receive four free black and white copies or two free colour copies.
Large format and vinyl printing pricing also change on January 2. Visit https://www.hpl.ca/makerspaces for updates.
Published:
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 2:00pm
Replacement and Damage Fees
Bring back your borrowed library items within 28 days to avoid a replacement or lost fee. We'll remove the fee when you bring back your overdue items.
Published:
Thursday, September 11, 2025 - 3:00pm
Spectator Collection Antiquarian Photographs
Introduction
Forty original photographs (most late 19th or early 20th century) of Hamilton and area were transferred from the Spectator Library to Special Collections [now Local History & Archives] in 1990. They have all been copied by the Hamilton Public Library photographer and (with 5 exceptions) identified, mounted and added to the Picture Collection under the following headings. The number after the heading refers to the Local History & Archives negative number.
The original photographs are in storage.
Headings
Hamilton - Schools - Queen Victoria School (#02528)
Hamilton - Streets - King Street East (Photographer Lyonde) (#02529)
Hamilton - Storms - 1898 (Main & Hughson Streets: Photographer G. Lees) (#02530)
Hamilton - Canals - Desjardins Canal (Photographer: Lyonde) (#02531)
Hamilton - Harbour (#02532)
Hamilton - Hospitals - Ontario Hospital (Photographer: William Farmer) (#02533)
Hamilton - Schools - Central School (#02534)
Hamilton - Parks - Ainslie's Woods (Photographer: Lyonde) (#02535)
Hamilton - Churches - All Saints Church (#02536)
Hamilton - Churches - St. Thomas Anglican Church (#02537)
Hamilton - Churches - Macnab Street Presbyterian Church (corner Macnab and Jackson Streets before the Sunday School was built) (#02538)
Hamilton - Schools - Murray Street School (#02539)
Hamilton - Hospitals - General Hospital (#02540)
Hamilton - Hospitals - Ontario Hospital (#02541)
Hamilton - Hotels - Ocean House (#02542)
Hamilton - Hospitals - General Hospital (#02543)
Hamilton - Hospitals - Ontario Hospital (Photographer: William Farmer, 1889) (#02544)
Hamilton - Incline Railways - Hamilton & Barton Incline Railway (#02545)
Hamilton - Industries - Sanford, W.E. Manufacturing Co. (#02546)
Hamilton - Cemeteries - Hamilton Cemetery (#02547)
Hamilton - Roads - Mountain Roads - Beckett Drive (#02548)
Hamilton - Schools - Cannon Street School (Photographer: William Farmer, 1889) (#02549)
Hamilton - Canals - Burlington Canal (Ocean House in background) (#02550)
Hamilton - Militia - Drill Hall (Photographer: William Farmer, 1889) (#02551)
Hamilton - Churches - All Saints Church (#02552)
Hamilton - Canals - Burlington Canal (#02553)
Hamilton - Schools - Hess Street School (Photographer: William Farmer, 1889)
Hamilton - Libraries - Hamilton Public Library (1890-1913) (#02555)
Hamilton - Storms - 1898 (Main Street West. Photographer: G. Lees) (#02556)
Hamilton - Organizations & Societies - Royal Hamilton Yacht Club (Photographer: C.S. Cochran) (#02557)
Hamilton - Historic Houses - Balquihidder [the photograph is actually of Wesanford] (#02558)
Unidentified lady with cello (Photographer: Lyonde) (#02559)
Hamilton - Organizations & Societies - Royal Templars of Temperance (James Street North at the north-west corner of Vine St.) (#02560)
Hamilton - School - Picton School (The corner of a shack adjoining to the east is a builder's convenience while St. Lawrence Church is being erected. Photographer: William Farmer) (#02561)
Hamilton - Schools - Collegiate Institute (Opened 1866 as Grammar School and changed in 1871 to High School and then Collegiate Institute. 1899 renovated and re-opened as Caroline Street Public School. 1930 Caroline Street Pre-Vocational School then Boy's Handicraft School. 1941 renamed F.W. McBeth School for Boys then closed. 1948 expropriated. 1949 razed) (#02562)
Hamilton - Churches - St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church (#02563)
Hamilton - Schools - Ryerson School (#02564)
Waterfall (#02565)
Waterfall (#02566)
Waterfall (#02567)
