Central Library - Sunday Hours Paused

Effective Sunday, February 1, Sunday service hours at Central Library will be paused. 

Sunday Hours will continue at Red Hill, Terryberry, Turner Park, Valley Park and Waterdown Branches from 1-5pm.

www.hpl.ca/hours 

Published:
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - 11:00am
Central Library - Daily Hours Update

Starting Monday, February 2, Central Library's daily hours will move back to a 9 am opening instead of 8 am, Monday through Saturday. Please make note of this new service change for your next visit. www.hpl.ca/hours 

Published:
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - 11:00am
Central Library – Digital Microfilm Machines

The digital microfilm machines at Central Library are not working. A single analog machine is available in the Local History and Archives Reading Room. This reader does not support printing. We apologize for the inconvenience and aim to have the digital devices repaired as soon as possible.

Published:
Monday, January 19, 2026 - 1:45pm
Online Resources - Update

The following eResources have been recently discontinued in our HPL collections: Novelist, Summa, Summa Kids, and Northstar Digital Literacy. Please visit www.hpl.ca/articles/read-watch-listen for our full listing of online resources for your next read, watch, listen and/or learn.

Published:
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 - 11:00am
Printing Updates

Daily print balances for black and white and colour printing change January 2, 2026. The new daily print balance is 40 cents. Members receive four free black and white copies or two free colour copies. 

Large format and vinyl printing pricing also change on January 2. Visit https://www.hpl.ca/makerspaces for updates.

Published:
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 2:00pm
Replacement and Damage Fees

Bring back your borrowed library items within 28 days to avoid a replacement or lost fee. We'll remove the fee when you bring back your overdue items. 

Published:
Thursday, September 11, 2025 - 3:00pm

Mission Statement and Values

HPL logo with graphic montage of text - discover, connect, respect, create etc

Mission Statement

Freedom to Belong and Discover

Vision Statement

A vibrant and welcoming community place where people learn, connect, share and discover.

Values

Accountability

Ensuring services remain relevant and that resources are managed effectively and transparently. We listen to the community and we communicate our rationale for decisions.

Inclusion

Creating trusted services and spaces that welcome and value everyone. We celebrate the varied cultures and histories of Hamiltonians. Equity informs our program design, so we can create fairer access to opportunities and help build a more just society.

Innovation

Anticipating and responding to changing needs and technology by continually adapting our work to remain relevant. We meet new challenges by gradually shifting resources to build capacity in areas of growing need. We are a leader in integrating sustainability into our planning and actions.

Intellectual Freedom

Providing free access to a wide range of ideas and artistic expressions. Ensuring residents have appropriate digital access and skills to flourish in the current economy and society. We nurture conversations that enhance mutual understanding and learning.

Respect

Supporting the value and dignity of all individuals. We work to support residents in overcoming the legacies of colonization, racism and other forms of discrimination.

Truth and Reconciliation Land Acknowledgement
The City of Hamilton is situated upon the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas. This land is covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, which was an agreement between the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek to share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. We further acknowledge that this land is covered by the Between the Lakes Purchase, 1792, between the Crown and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Today, the City of Hamilton is home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island (North America) and we recognize that we must do more to learn about the rich history of this land, so that we can better understand our roles as residents, neighbours, partners and caretakers.