Beginning March 16, the Hamilton Public Library (HPL) will require anyone entering the Central library branch in Downtown Hamilton to have a valid HPL library card. Hamilton’s Chief Librarian Paul Takala stated the measure is necessary “to address concerns about the safety and security of staff and library members while minimizing disruption for residents who use the Central Library.”
“The entry check-in process we are proposing will scan library cards upon entry,” Takala stated. “This will be checked against our current suspended members list.”
The decision follows months of deteriorating safety conditions at the downtown branch over the winter, which library management outlined during a February 19 Library Board meeting.
The situation had become so severe that Takala stated the HPL was considering a full closure of the branch.
In response to the situation, the HPL has already eliminated Sunday hours at the downtown branch and implemented a 9:00 a.m. weekday opening time instead of the previous 8:00 a.m. as it seeks to ensure a safe environment within its existing budget and staffing resources.
Takala hopes implementing access control will address the safety issues being experienced.
If the measures are unsuccessful—should the situation at Central worsen or serious new safety or security incidents arise—the Hamilton Library Board has given the Chief Librarian authority to enact an emergency temporary closure of the Central Library for up to one month.
The entry requirement will be formally approved at a meeting of the Library Board scheduled for Wednesday, March 11.
More to come…
RELATED
Chief Librarian Paul Takala spoke on As It Happens during Friday’s episode, begins at around 12:00.
Production Details
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Published: March 6, 2026
Last updated: March 6, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman
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v. 1.0.1 added link to As It Happens (9:40 p.m.)
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Sad.
But as was pointed out in a recent Spectator opinion piece, dealing with this crisis should not be on library staff.
This is a failure of senior levels of government to deal with the affordable housing and opioid crises.