All Branches Closed - Sunday, May 17

All HPL Branches are closed on Sunday, May 17. Bookmobile is off the road. Extended Access service is not available.

Regular service hours resume on Tuesday, May 19. Visit hpl.ca for our Virtual Branch.

Published:
Monday, May 11, 2026 - 10:15am
All Branches Closed - Victoria Day, Monday, May 18

All HPL Branches are closed on Monday, May 18. Bookmobile is off the road. Extended Access and Study Hall services are not available. Regular service hours resume on Tuesday, May 19. 

Published:
Monday, May 11, 2026 - 10:15am
Bookmobile Service Modification

Due to Driver availability, Bookmobile has the following schedule modifications for the month of May. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Tuesday, May 12:               

  • Greencedar - Cancelled
  • Mountview - Cancelled

Wednesday, May 13:               

  • Swansea - Cancelled
  • Helen Detwiler - Cancelled
  • Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum - Cancelled

Thursday, May 14:                

  • Rockton - Cancelled
  • Mohawk Gardens - Cancelled
  • Meadowlands - Cancelled

Monday, May 18: All Bookmobile sites closed

Published:
Monday, May 4, 2026 - 12:00pm
Software Maintenance - Victoria Day, Monday, May 18

Due to software maintenance, HPL library's catalogue, online services and library accounts will not be available between 9am and 7pm on Monday, May 18. Thank you for your patience.

Published:
Friday, April 24, 2026 - 9:00am
Central Library: Children's Area Renovation on 2nd Floor

Renovations are currently underway for the 2nd floor Central Children's Area. Programs are still being offered as scheduled and there is a temporary pop-up Children’s Area on the northeast side of the 2nd floor (near the Piano Room), including access to collections and train tables. Construction is expected to be completed by late Spring. Thank you for your patience during this time.

Published:
Monday, March 23, 2026 - 9:00am
Sherwood Branch: Renovations

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.

Published:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 1:00pm
Home > Pick Up Your Child’s PRESTO Card for Free HSR Travel

Pick Up Your Child’s PRESTO Card for Free HSR Travel

HPL mascot scout pictured holding a Presto card.Children ages 6-12 can now travel for FREE on HSR transit with a valid PRESTO card, available from Hamilton Public Library.

Here’s How:

Get Your Card

Visit a Hamilton Public Library branch to get your child’s free library card and PRESTO card. (Only one PRESTO card per child’s library card. While quantities last.) Your child’s free PRESTO card from HPL is valid for free travel on Hamilton Street Railway (HSR), GO and Burlington Transit.

Setup Your Card

Visit one of these locations, as soon as possible, to add your child’s birth date to their PRESTO card:

  • HSR Customer Service Centre at 36 Hunter St. East (GO Station)
  • City Hall or Municipal Service Centres in Dundas, Ancaster or Stoney Creek
  • Any Shopper’s Drug Mart or Fortinos location in Hamilton

Please bring proof of your child’s age, such as a birth certificate or passport.

Children can travel free until their 13th birthday. When your child turns 13, their card can be updated to a youth card by visiting one of the locations above.

Use Your Card

When you board a bus, tap your child’s PRESTO card on the PRESTO fare payment device.

Parents and caregivers, if you don’t yet have a PRESTO card, you can get one when you visit one of the above locations to set up your child’s card. Pay your fare with the free PRESTO E-Tickets mobile app or with exact cash. Children ages 0-5 travel free and don’t need a PRESTO card.

Download the PRESTO E-Tickets Mobile app.

For more information, check out the Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about travelling on HSR
Phone: 905-546-CITY (2489)
Email: hsrserve@hamilton.ca
Online: hamilton.ca/presto

About PRESTO

PRESTO is an easy and safe fare payment system.  It’s also the cheapest way to travel on transit in Hamilton and across the region.

Visit prestocard.ca or call 1-877-378-6123 to learn more about PRESTO and to register your child’s card.

HSR bus icon with HPL and HSR logo.