Parking lots, the main entrance and the exterior drop box are currently unavailable. Please use alternate entrances and parking as directed on-site.
All HPL Branches are closed on Sunday, August 31, and Labour Day, Monday, September 1st. Bookmobile is off the road, and Extended Access is not available. Regular service hours resume Tuesday, September 2. www.hpl.ca/hours
The Winona Bookmobile visit on Friday, August 22 (11am-Noon) is cancelled due to the Winona Peach Festival. It is expected to resume the following week. Thank you for your understanding.
Due to a mid-day fire drill, Turner Park Branch and Les Chater Family YMCA are closed for a fire drill from noon-1 pm. Thank you for your patience.
Due to roof repair maintenance, the Branch is temporarily closed from September 2 until October 10. Please visit Parkdale and Barton locations as your nearest branches for your library needs. Thank you for your understanding.
From August 18-19, accessible parking spots at the back of the building will not be available due to concrete and perimeter walkway repairs. From August 20-22, the main entrance from the back of the building will not be available. Please use the sidewalk on the side of the Branch to enter through the front entrance (off Rymal Road East) and gain access to the back parking lot. Thank you for your understanding.
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.
Hamilton Hosts Internet Archive and Global Partners Preservation and Sharing of Important Stories and Histories Focus of Event
HAMILTON, ON – June 19, 2024 – Hamilton Public Library (HPL) welcomed representatives from Internet Archive, Woodland Cultural Centre and Liberian Learning Center to HPL's Central Library on Monday (Jun 17) to emphasize the importance of digitally preserving the customs, cultures, languages, stories and histories of those silenced around the world.
In an era of rampant disinformation and world conflicts aimed at eradicating generations of cultural treasures and histories, the partners spoke of the importance of preservation and contributing to the global repository of knowledge and content.
Internet Archives founder Brewster Kahle presented the non-profit digital library's vision of providing universal access to all knowledge through online access to a comprehensive global repository of books, periodicals, audio, video, archived websites and other cultural artifacts.
During a public tour of HPL's Local History and Archives, Paul Takala, HPL's Chief Librarian, stated that in the past year, HPL staff digitized more than 1,500 locally important documents and artifacts using a Scribe, which is custom-built hardware and software that works together to scan items quickly.
Woodland Cultural Centre (WCC) has also begun this important work. Its museum and library have collected and preserved 50,000 artifacts and is starting to digitize key pieces. The Centre was established in 1972 upon the closure of the Mohawk Institute Residential School under the direction of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians.
A Hamilton partner with a Liberian connection also works to do the same. "The collaboration between Internet Archives, Hamilton Public Library and Empowerment Squared in support of the Liberian Learning Center project is a testament to the transformative power of digital preservation and access," explains Leo Johnson, Chief Empowerment Officer, Empowerment Squared. "By promoting continuous learning and preserving international voices, we not only safeguard the rich cultural heritage of Liberia but also foster educational growth in post-conflict regions where important records, documents and literature are either inaccessible or under threat of being forever lost."
For example, Johnson hopes to digitally preserve a rare, significant book called The Light is Coming (translated). This small workbook is about learning to read and write the Kpelleh language, which is notable given the oral nature of Liberian society and culture where languages are predominantly spoken, not written.
These collaborative partnerships highlight the profound impact of digitizing content, ensuring that communities' stories, knowledge, and history are accessible to local communities, the greater world – and future generations.