Due to network maintenance, online resources are not available on Sunday, October 12, from 6 am to 5 pm. Thank you for your patience.
On Wednesday, October 8, the Helen Detwiler (320 Brigade Drive) visit has been changed to 11-11:30 am this week. Thank you for your understanding.
The following locations have upcoming delayed openings due to Staff training drills.
Monday, October 20
Ancaster Branch, 10 am
Tuesday, October 21
Central Library, 10 am
Sherwood Branch, 10 am
You may visit nearby Branches for your library needs. www.hpl.ca/hours
All HPL Branches are closed on Thanksgiving Monday, October 13. Bookmobile is off the road. Extended Access and Study Hall services are not available. Regular service hours resume on Tuesday, October 14. Our Virtual Branch is open at hpl.ca.
All branches close on Sunday, October 12, 2025 for Thanksgiving. This includes branches with Extended Access.
Due to the ongoing Mohawk College Support Staff strike, the Bookmobile visit on Monday, October 6, is cancelled. You may select Terryberry Branch as an alternative location to pick up your Holds. On Wednesday, October 8, the Helen Detwiler visit is changed to 11-11:30 am this week.
Interlibrary Loan (ILLO) service will be temporarily paused starting Friday, September 26, due to continued negotiations between CUPW and Canada Post. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Bring back your borrowed library items (due Oct 1 or later) within 28 days to avoid a replacement or lost fee. We'll remove the fee when you bring back your overdue items.
Due to roof repair maintenance, the Branch is temporarily closed from September 2 until October 14. Please visit the Red Hill, Parkdale, and Barton locations as your nearest branches for your library needs. Thank you for your patience.
Learn English
The Newcomer Learning Centre Desk is open daily starting at 9am, excluding Sundays and statutory holidays.
The Newcomer Learning Centre is on the 4th Floor of Central Library.
It has books, CDs and DVDs for Learners and Tutors.
Anyone with a HPL card can borrow Newcomer Learning Centre materials.
To speak with Staff, call 905-546-3444 or email nlc@hpl.ca.
Newcomer Learning Centre Programs
Proof of Permanent Residency or a Protected Person status is requested in advance of participating in any Newcomer Learning Centre program. Registration is also required for all program.
English Tutoring:
Practise English with a tutor in-person, online or both. Meet twice a week for one to two hours. To join, complete the English Tutoring Request Form.
To volunteer with Newcomers to Canada, please complete our Volunteer English Tutor Application.
English for Seniors Online or In-Person:
Learn English with other seniors age 55 and older, in a small class.
Online classes are Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:30-10:30am.
In-person classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 to 11:00am.
Newcomer Book Club:
Chat about a book, learn new vocabulary and meet friends.
Human Library for Newcomers:
Learn about the life journeys of others in Canada and about Canadian culture through short conversations with a settled immigrant or long-time Canadian.
In-Person Conversation Circles:
Practise English in-person, in a group setting. Topics are tailored to the needs of students. Conversation Circles meet Thursdays 3:30-4:30pm.
Information Sessions:
Information sessions are hosted throughout the year. Themes include employment, credential evaluation, volunteering, employee/tenant rights and more. Ten sessions offered per year.
Visit Newcomers Events for more information.
Language Assessment and Settlement Services
English language assessment and settlement services are available at:
French language assessment is available at:
- Language Assessment Services - Peel Halton Dufferin - Achēv (achev.ca)
- Collège Boréal (collegeboreal.ca)
French Integration and Settlement Services are available at:
- Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton/Niagara: https://www.cschn.ca/services-aux-nouveaux-arrivants/
- Additional newcomer supports in Hamilton can be found through the Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council (HIPC) at: https://newcomersinhamilton.ca/
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