Printing and photocopying are not working at Dundas Branch. We're working to get these working again as soon as possible.
Filming will take place near the Locke Branch from August 4 to 8, which will impact traffic flow and parking. We apologize for the inconvenience.
- East and West Side of Locke Street South
- North and South Side of Herkimer Street
- North and South Side of Stanley Avenue
On Monday, August 4, Civic Holiday, due to IT network maintenance, HPL's catalogue will be searchable, but Holds and Library accounts, as well as online resources, will not be available. However, WiFi will remain accessible. We apologize for the inconvenience.
The internet at Lynden Branch is not working. We aim to have it fixed quickly.
All branches close on Sunday, August 3, 2025 and August 4, 2025 for the Civic Holiday. This includes branches with Extended Access.
The following Bookmobile visits are modified on:
Thursday, July 31
- Bennetto and Kinsmen - Cancelled
Friday, August 1
- Winona Park - Cancelled
Monday, August 4 - All Bookmobile visits cancelled
Thursday, August 7
- Rockton 10:30-11:30 am - Moved to Rockton Elementary School 670 Hwy 8 (this date only)
The parking lot elevator at Terryberry Branch is not working. Members will need to use the accessible ramp at the Mohawk entrance and the inner elevator. We're working to get it fixed quickly.
Please note that the audio volume levels on our public computers are having issues. The estimated time of disruption is unknown at this time. Thank you for your patience.
The accessibility ramp at Mount Hope Branch is damaged. The handrail is not available. The ramp will not be available while being repaired. We aim to fix it quickly.
The "Where-to-Look" Index

The Where-to-Look is a major reference tool in Local History and Archives, and has been part of the Hamilton Public Library since the 1930s. This is a unique catalogue of subject index cards telling members 'where to look' to find the information they are interested in researching. Library staff have indexed books, periodicals, newspapers, archives and many other sources since the original Where-to-Look was started. The information within is updated regularly, and currently contains more than 250,000 references to information concerning people, events, buildings, companies, churches, etc., all relating to Hamilton and the surrounding area.
Born from practicality and necessity, Local History and Archives' "Where-to-Look" is an indispensable fixture of the department, connecting staff and members to what they need to find within Local History and Archives' collections. Visit Local History and Archives today, and staff will happily show you how to use it in your own research.