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 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
The accessible washroom at Kenilworth Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.
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.
After Hours Study Hall is not available in July and August. Hours will resume Tuesday, September 8. www.hpl.ca/study-halls
LGBT2SQ+ Community Archive
Updated May 1, 2025
Michael Johnstone fonds is the founding collection of the Hamilton 2SLGBTQ+ Community Archive at Hamilton Public Library (HPL).
HPL's Local History and Archives Staff are very familiar with this Archive; it is well organized and described. It is a large Archive with some restrictions for privacy; researchers are asked to schedule a research visit by phone or email.
You can find more information here: https://archives.hpl.ca/index.php/michael-johnstone-fond
Updated July 3, 2018
Hamilton Public Library is grateful to Michael Johnstone for his founding donation to our new LGBT2SQ+ Community Archive. Michael has lovingly captured more than 50 years of Hamilton’s LGBT2SQ+ history – serving as a self-appointed archivist for a segment of the population that has long been marginalized. The collection contains news clippings, photos, meeting minutes, newsletters and more.
The donation was accepted by our Chief Librarian Paul Takala, on Sunday June 17, 2018 during the Hamilton Pride celebration at Gage Park. It will be housed in our Local History & Archives department at Central Library, for the betterment of our fine City and its many rainbow residents.
Thank you very much, Michael.






