Hamilton Public Library

The Hamilton Public Library (HPL) is a modern public library system that serves a population of more than 490,000 people in Hamilton, Ontario.cite web |url= http://www12.statcan.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3525005&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=hamilton&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All| title=Community Highlights for Hamilton (City) |accessdate=2006-12-04 |format=html |work=2001 Canadian Census ]

Once restricted to the city of Hamilton, the HPL service area was expanded when the outlying townships were amalgamated into the City in 2001. The now-amalgamated City of Dundas had had its own library in operation since 1822.cite web
url=http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/LibraryServices/AboutTheLibrary/hplhistory.htm
work=Hamilton Public Library website
title=History of the Hamilton Public Library
accessdate=2007-02-15] The outlying rural towns had previously been served by the Wentworth Libraries system. In 2001, the Wentworth and Dundas libraries amalgamated with the HPL into a single system with 24 branches, 34 bookmobile stops, a virtual online branch and a Visiting Library Service for the homebound.

Other HPL services include the Local History and Archives department (formerly called Special Collections), which houses an extensive collection of local history resources, and the Learning Centre, which provides access to language materials for new Canadians. In recent years, the HPL’s collection of online resources has expanded rapidly, and now features more than 30 databases covering a great variety of topic areas. [cite web
url=http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/LibraryServices/
work=Hamilton Public Library website
title=Hamilton Public Library Home
accessdate=2007-02-15]

Public libraries have operated in Hamilton since the 1830s, although the first branches were privately operated and tended to be ephemeral in nature. Hamilton city council voted to publicly fund the construction and operation of a library in 1889. This building opened in February 1890. Hamilton was the first city in Canada to erect a new building for the express purpose of housing a library.

A HPL branch opened on Hamilton’s Barton Street in 1908. Andrew Carnegie funded a new main library opened in 1913. This was in turn replaced in 1980.

List of branches

References

External links

* [http://www.hpl.ca Hamilton Public Library website]