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
Sherwood Makerspace Unavailable

Due to ongoing construction on the second floor, the Sherwood Makerspace is temporarily unavailable. We anticipate reopening in late June. The nearest Makerspace location is Concession Branch.

Published:
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 - 11:00am
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 

Saturday, June 13:               

  • Special Event - All Stops Cancelled

Friday, June 19:                  

  • Six Nations- Cancelled

  • Maplewood- Cancelled

Published:
Friday, May 22, 2026 - 12:00pm
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

2025-26 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 

Lisa Richter

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 

Elizabeth Ruth

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 

Lisa Ko-Web

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. 


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