All HPL Branches are closed on Sunday August 2, 2026. Bookmobile is off the road and Extended Access is unavailable. Our Virtual Branch is open at hpl.ca. www.hpl.ca/hours
All Branches Closed August 2
Published:
Friday, July 31, 2026 - 9:00am
All Branches Closed for Civic Holiday
All HPL Branches are closed on Monday August 3, 2026 for Civic Holiday. Bookmobile is off the road and Extended Access is unavailable. Our Virtual Branch is open at hpl.ca. www.hpl.ca/hours
Published:
Friday, July 31, 2026 - 8:00am
Kenilworth Branch Accessible Washroom Out of Order
The accessible washroom at Kenilworth Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.
Published:
Thursday, July 30, 2026 - 5:45pm
New Loan Periods - Effective Monday, August 31
As of Monday, August 31, new loan periods will come into effect to shorten the wait time for popular hold items.
DVD Express - 3 days
DVDs and Blu-rays - 7 days (fiction, children's and languages)
Magazines - 7 days
Bestseller Express - 14 days
DVDs and Blu-rays - 14 days (non-fiction and TV series)
Books - 21 days
Music/Books on CD and Children's Express - 21 days
Please visit www.hpl.ca/borrowing for more details.
Published:
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 - 2:30pm
Study Halls Pause for Summer Break
After Hours Study Hall is not available in July and August. Hours will resume Tuesday, September 8. www.hpl.ca/study-halls
Published:
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 3:00pm
The Short Works Prize
Short Works Prize Call for Entries
The contest opens August 6 and closes October 27, 2024
Recognizing Excellence in Writing: The 10th Annual Short Works Prize for Hamilton-area writers. Presented with Hamilton Arts & Letters Magazine and the Hamilton Public Library.
The SWP Guidelines have changed this year.
Please read the guidelines carefully before you submit your entry.
Eligibility:
-
Writers must live in the Hamilton Public Library service area. Writers who live in communities with reciprocal borrowing privileges at HPL are not eligible.
-
Please use 12-point, Arial font and double-space all entries.
-
Entries are not returned.
-
Cost to enter: $0.
-
Writers who received Honourable Mentions in 2023 may apply again in 2024.
-
Writers who received a 2023 Short Works cash prize are not eligible to enter in 2024.
New Guidelines:
This year, SWP will recognize Unpublished works only. All entrants must submit a piece of writing that has NEVER been published before. Anyone may submit. Entrants may be professional writers; OR creative writers who have never had their work published before.
The awards program is open to Adults (21 and older) and Youth (16-20).
All entrants are invited to submit ONE piece of writing that has NEVER BEEN PUBLISHED BEFORE in ONE of the following categories:
- Poetry
- Fiction
- Creative Non-Fiction
‘Blind judging’: Your name must ONLY appear on your entry form, not on the work you submit. Jurors will read the works without knowing the names of the authors.
Adult Writers
- Writers aged 21 or older may submit ONE piece of writing that has not been published. A minimum of three $100 cash prizes will be awarded.
Young Writers
- Writers ages 16 to 20 at the time of entry may submit ONE piece of writing that has not been published. Up to eight cash prizes of $50 will be awarded.
Word Count
Entries may be a few lines, or a few pages. The maximum word count is 6,000 words.
All entrants will be notified of the results via email by Nov 25, 2024.
Submissions:
Enter online below. The deadline to submit is Oct 27, 2024, 11:59pm.
Questions? Email: HAL@HALmagazine.com
Hamilton Arts & Letters magazine
www.HALmagazine.com
