The Hamilton Public Library (HPL) Central branch has relocated its children’s section to the second floor of the downtown facility. Construction is underway to create a permanent children’s space, with funding allocated in the 2028 or 2029 budget.
The move follows a winter crisis marked by significant disorder and indoor drug use that triggered a sharp decline in parents visiting the branch with their children. In February, the Library Board heard about the crisis and seriously considered a temporary closure of the entire Central branch in response.
Rather than close the facility entirely, HPL opted to relocate the section and implement a mandatory library card check-in pilot at the downtown branch.
The relocation is funded by $200,000 in Ward 2 area-rated funds, allocated following a May 2025 HPL Board meeting when HPL first signalled the section might need to move due to adult disruptions. The funds were originally earmarked to enhance safety and access control to the first-floor section, to permit the HPL time to plan the future second-floor area. This winter’s crisis prompted an immediate decision to relocate instead.
HPL Director of Facilities Chad Roglich said initial designs for first-floor safety mitigations “missed the mark,” failing to adequately address the disruptions that were driving families away from the branch.
Relocation construction work began on March 31 and is expected to be completed by the end of April. A temporary children’s area is currently operating on the second floor during construction. The interim section will open officially in May.
The interim second-floor space will not include dedicated washrooms. The future permanent children’s area will feature dedicated washrooms, a nursing room, and other amenities tailored for children.
“We know we’ve got some capital funds in future years, 2028-2029, to create a permanent children’s area in this location,” Roglich said.
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Published: April 12, 2026
Last updated: April 12, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman
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I’m concerned for everyone in downtown Hamilton. I used to enjoy going downtown but stopped going to Jackson Square due to ongoing drug use & risk of violence. As long as you permit it, nothing will change. They just took over your childrens’ space-where are the voices of the parents? Taxpayers? Voters? What’s next?
They shouldn’t have to be spending all this money after having to pay their own recovery from the city hacking attack but I understand. Look people ,addicts are people too . Most of them are not a threat except to themselves. There are extra policing in the mall, library and outside it these days . Also because the services are in Hamilton other neighboring community homeless gravitate here .I wish the library well as a community hub with computers and many forms of resources for ALL.I hope the kids are safe and return. We will turn this tide together.
I was a long time Hamilton core resident and health care professional. This is exactly why a year and a half ago I moved my entire family to Niagara. I loved living in the community I served until they made policies that made it completely unsafe to live there with my children. It’s so sad, let the addictions crisis get completely out of control and then play the most expensive game of wack a mole ever with public funds. No plan in sight to truly address anything, just make sure you restrict access to everything now because half the population has turned into the walking dead. Its scary and sad. Why would any decent parent go to the central library eith their kids even with it on the second floor unless you are very under resourced and can’t go anywhere else? So they’ve created an enviornment where half the population is the walking dead and the other half of the population that are tired of the walking dead and all their problems being thrust upon the system and are walking around bitter and angry. So I guess the question if you live in Hamilton is are you addicted and hopeless or angry and resentful…..great community for families. Thanks a lot, shout out to Naan from ward 3!
Unbelievable, a total revamp of a city Library to accommodate the junkies who need a place to hit up.
Enough of this already, there are laws on the books to deal with public intoxication, loitering and vagrancy. Send the Paddy Wagon around the city and pick up all these miscreants and have them charged.
You sure don’t see these types of activities happening in Burlington or Oakville.