All public washrooms at Barton Branch are not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.
From March 23 until April 12, Valley Park Community Centre will be closed for renovations, reopening April 13. Pool and changerooms will remain closed until early summer 2026.
Valley Park Branch will remain open during the renovations for your library needs.
Filming will take place Mar 3-4, 7am to 11pm, at 1464 Centre Rd. This may impact traffic flow in the surrounding area.
As of Monday, March 2, Concession Branch's Living Room and Makerspace areas are closed. (The next nearest Makerspaces are Sherwood and Terryberry Branches.) Seating may be limited at times. Renovations are expected to be completed in late Spring. Thank you for your patience.
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.
Starting Tuesday February 10, the First Floor Living Room is closed due to renovation preparations. Study and work spaces are available on Floors 2-4. Thank you for your patience.
Please note the following Bookmobile visit updates.
Wednesday, March 4
St. Elizabeth Village: 1:15-1:45pm - Cancelled
Gemini: 2-2:30pm - Cancelled
Rosedale: 5-6:30pm - Cancelled
Friday, March 6
Winona: 11am-Noon - Cancelled
Queen Victora: 3-4pm - Cancelled
The accessible washroom at Carlisle Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.
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.
Contest Rules
Power of the Pen Contest Rules:

Power of the Pen Contest Rules:
- Entrants must be between ages 12-18 and residents of Hamilton or a neighbouring city (a city that neighbours the borders of Hamilton municipal boundaries)
- Each entrant may submit one poem, short story or both in the English and French categories. Each entry requires a separate entry form.
- Short stories must be at most 2,500 words. Poems may be any length.
- Please type entries in Arial 12-point size, double-spaced. Please number all pages and submit as a word document
- Do not put your name anywhere on your work. Your name must be on the entry form only.
- All submissions must be original. If it is fanfiction, the work of inspiration must be named.
- The decision of the judges is final.
- Please email mnichols@hpl.ca to make arrangements to pick-up judged submissions.
- All entries are scanned to ensure originality. Each winning entry is scanned using plagiarism-identifying software. Plagiarized submissions will be disqualified.
- Please note, entries that do not meet format requirements will be disqualified.
Rules on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use:
We recognize AI tools can be useful when revising writing. Contest participants are only allowed to use AI for technical assistance, such as correcting grammar or enhancing word choice. Using generative AI is not permitted to produce ideas, or create writing or art. On the contest entry form, you must acknowledge if, how, and when you used AI in your work.






