The following are my (Joey Coleman) live posts as published on my BlueSky account during the June 18, 2026 Hamilton Public Library Board of Directors special meeting regarding the Central Library card access pilot.

Liveposts Replay:

[6:06 PM]: Good evening I’m at the Special Hamilton Public Library Board meeting regarding safety and access at the Central Library. This is the question of using a valid library card requirement to enter the downtown branch. Livestream: pub-hpl.escribemeetings.com/Players/ISIS… Live posts follow

A wide-angle interior photograph taken from the side aisle of a large assembly space shows an audience seated in rows of black plastic chairs. Several chairs in the midground have blue printed signs reading "Reserved for Delegations" taped to their backrests. The attendees are facing towards the right side of the frame, where library board members are seated along tables near a doorway labelled Wentworth. The modern room features a large cylindrical concrete structural pillar, white walls, and a distinctive exposed ceiling fitted with rectangular acoustic panels painted in bright blue and lime green.
A medium close-up photograph focuses on a densely packed crowd of meeting attendees seated in black chairs, all looking forward toward an unseen speaker. In the front left, a man in a dark suit and white collared shirt sits with his hands clasped. On the right, an individual wears a black t-shirt featuring a yellow circular logo for CUPE Local 932. Further back in the crowd, a person holds up a handmade cardboard sign with red hand-painted text reading "HOARDING MAKES LIBRARIES LESS SAFE!". The room is brightly illuminated with flat indoor lighting, revealing acoustic wall panels and a concrete structural pillar in the background.

[6:09 PM]: The first delegate is Gessie Stearns, a Social Work PhD candidate who specializes in homelessness and addiction. Stearns submits the library card access requirement was in violation of the HPL’s requirements under human rights legislation, is discriminatory, and caused harm.

[6:09 PM]: There was significant applause from the audience.

[6:21 PM]: Delegate Karl Bridges spoke to the Library Board and stated they are dealing with problems caused by underfunding of social supports. He cited growth in police budgets as ‘proof’ that public funds exist to support those needing housing or ‘safe consumption’ sites; instead, those funds go to police.

A medium shot captures a man speaking into a black microphone while holding a smartphone in his other hand during a public meeting. He is wearing a purple baseball cap, a blue t-shirt with Canadian Union of Postal Employees Local 548 branding, and light-coloured trousers, with visible tattoos on his left arm. He stands beside a small wooden podium. The background is softly out of focus, showing a large potted green plant, a light wood cabinet, and a large digital monitor displaying a live video feed of the meeting room layout under bright indoor lighting.
Karl Bridges, representing the Canadian Union of Postal Employees Local 548, delivers a delegation to the Hamilton Public Library Board during a special meeting on June 18, 2026. Credit: Joey Coleman

[6:21 PM]: Note: I used the apostrophe (‘) to note the delegate’s terminology. I use “supervised consumption” in my reporting as I’ve determined the term to be more descriptive.

[6:21 PM]: MOMENT OF LEVITY: There is a World Cup viewing outside of the meeting room. Cheers were audible within the Board meeting room, and the delegates had a good line (not clearly audible) about the cheers.

[6:21 PM]: Delegate Lisa Hunt and Melanie Cummings of the library workers union CUPE 932 delegate in opposition to the Central Library access policy, saying it places a burden on library workers and is contrary to the vision and ideals of public libraries.

[6:23 PM]: Miranda Jurilj, SACHA – Sexual Assault Centre, states the organization opposes library card access policy, says it is a barrier to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence who need to remain autonomous and may not wish to show ID to get a library card, adding that ID can harm transgender people.

[6:26 PM]: Lita Barrie, Ontario Library Association (OLA) President and Hamilton resident, is delegating. She was a senior manager at the HPL. She is speaking as OLA president. She is the Chief Librarian in Burlington. Outlines OLA vision and values. Says the access pilot is responsible governance [1/2]

[6:26 PM]: Barrie: There are no simple solutions to the challenges libraries have been experiencing. She said that the card access policy was a measure that ensured the library could continue operating and providing its services. “Public Libraries are shared public spaces” and need to be safe places. [2/2]

[6:28 PM]: Lee Lloyd delegating in opposition to the library card access policy. Reading a letter that states a library card requirement to enter Central Library is a barrier. People should not be required to have a card if they do not wish to.

[6:35 PM]: Alison Jones is now delegating. Opens by stating the Library had stood against “fascist book bans” and have been important community spaces. [pending — see note above] Shares concerns regarding transphobia at McMaster. Says the requirement to show ID forces trans people to be outed. Says card access policy others people

[6:40 PM]: Delegate Greg Voisin: Says the HPL could’ve chosen to advocate for people, “fight the City, fight the Province.” Says the card access requirement and Sunday closure harms unhoused people. Cites spending on furniture for the new West Harbour branch as a poor spending choice.

[6:40 PM]: Greg stops at 2.5 mins, hands the microphone to another person. This person states they were homeless, at the Sally Ann shelter, and the Library was critical to them getting back on their feet. Says the card access policy would’ve prevented them from reaching success.

[6:41 PM]: Delegate Julie S begins by saying they are a social worker, and a former library worker. Says the card access policy and Sunday closure are ‘barriers that don’t work’. Says they gave CPR to a person on a Sunday, and could not access the library’s defibrillator because of the closure.

[6:44 PM]: Delegate Julie S calls for more training for library staff and the public to better support people who require help, that more drug overdose response training and supplies will save lives and ensure a more open, inclusive, democratic community.

[6:46 PM]: Marc Davignon, ACORN, is the next delegate. Says libraries are open to everyone to gain knowledge, and that it took a long time to address discrimination to get libraries to live up to their promise of being open to everyone regardless of personal circumstance, background. The City needs to invest in libraries

"Joey-Coleman-Bluesky-Photo-HPL-Special-Meeting-June-18-2026_3.webp". A wide perspective from the back of a brightly lit civic meeting room captures a seated audience facing a central presentation area. A delegate wearing a red t-shirt speaks from a wooden podium near a doorway labelled Wentworth. To the right, a man sits casually on the edge of a raised wooden stage, typing on a laptop computer, while a large projection screen displays a live video feed of the ongoing meeting. The ceiling features suspended acoustic panels in vibrant blue and lime green, and the attendees in the foreground are viewed from behind, seated in rows of black plastic chairs.

[6:51 PM]: Marc Davignon’s five minutes has ended. Refuses to acknowledge the time limit and continues to speak. He is asked to respect the time of others. Turns away from the Board and speaks loudly over the Board while turned to the audience. He is called to order but ignores it.

[6:54 PM]: Marc Davignon will not cede the floor. Davignon says the Library should give “the community” the first floor now that the Children’s Area has been moved to the second floor. ACORN says not to restrict access to anyone. He gets a standing ovation from the crowd.

A close-up, eye-level photograph focuses on a man reading aloud from a multi-page printed document held in both hands during a public delegation. The man has long dark hair tied back, wears thick black rectangular glasses, and is dressed in a vibrant orange t-shirt. His mouth is open in mid-speech. The foreground is heavily blurred, showing the tops of the heads of seated audience members. The background, also softly out of focus, reveals a doorway topped with large black lettering spelling Wentworth, alongside a decorative wall installation constructed from stacked book pages.
Marc Davigon, co-chair ACORN’s downtown Hamilton chapter, called on the HPL to turn over the first floor area to “the community” following the relocation of the Children’s Area to the second floor of the downtown Central Library branch. Credit: Joey Coleman

[6:54 PM]: The gallery declines to come to order. The HPL Board is recessed.

[6:57 PM]: Photo: A few minutes ago as Marc Davignon of ACORN spoke over the Library Board and to the public gallery. The HPL Board has now left the room and is recessed.

[7:07 PM]: The Hamilton Public Library Board is attempting to resume. Expectations of decorum are read. The HPL Board says they will need to clear the room if the meeting is disrupted. Some chuckles from the public gallery.

[7:07 PM]: Delegate Eric MacPherson says the access card rule decreases attendance at the library and this could give government “in the Carney era” an excuse to cut funding to libraries. Says the policy excludes people. Libraries should hire more social workers and extend hours of social work services.

[7:14 PM]: Delegate Sonali Menenzes opens by stating Greg Voisin is joining their delegation. (Voisin already delegated.) Menenzes speaks about how the Hamilton Zineposium uses the Library to do their work, including community outreach, and the access policy is a barrier to that.

[7:14 PM]: Voisin speaks for a second time. Voisin did not use the Children’s Area with their two children during the card access pilot.

[7:19 PM]: Delegate Jacob Metcalf opens, “I am speaking as a father, as a son” and shares that his brother died due to an overdose at age 36. The overdose occurred inside the Central Library in January. Metcalf provides moving testimony that reflects the complexity of the situation. I cannot capture the nuances (1/2)

[7:19 PM]: Metcalf says the Library needs to ban drugs inside the Library, and supports the card access policy. Again, there is a lot of nuance and complexity that cannot be captured in this format. Silence in the room. Some reserved applause of support as he sits down after speaking.

[7:21 PM]: (I will publish more on Metcalf’s statement in the coming days. It needs to be written in a format that does justice to the complexity, nuance, and courage shown in sharing his story and position.)

[7:23 PM]: Dr. Nicole Dalmer, PhD, McMaster Department of Health, Aging and Society, says the government is underfunding social services, housing, income supports, and these are as essential as roads and infrastructure to society. Says HPL needs to share what is happening, advocate for people.

[7:24 PM]: Delegate Mya Nichols says they are speaking for a HPL staff member who wishes to remain anonymous. Opens by stating the HPL management is not neutral and the report should be done by a neutral policy. There is finger-snapping in the gallery.

[7:31 PM]: I did not hear the person’s name as it was announced. On the list, the next speaker is supposed to be Max Gustafson. They are very short, 30 seconds is my guess, say they oppose the card access policy and calls on the HPL to remain open to all. (It was Gustafson)

[7:31 PM]: John Phillips begins by saying they are recovering from addiction and homelessness. Says that carding people makes the HPL a private library, not a public library. Says it is discrimination. Calls on the Board to resign. Loud applause from the gallery. That’s the end of delegations.

[7:32 PM]: The HPL Board is now receiving the staff presentation regarding the card access policy. The presenter is senior manager Sarah Gauthier.

[7:44 PM]: The staff presentation just ended. There were a few “BOOS” from the public gallery. The Library Board is now discussing the card access policy pilot.

[7:45 PM]: HPL Board Member Nicolas van Velzen is the first member to provide remarks. Thanks delegates [pending — see note above] for the public engagement. He shares what the HPL has been doing in response to drug use, added social supports, training, engagement, advocacy. There is a heckle “no you have not”

[7:47 PM]: van Velzen says card access pilot was not the preferred choice of the Library Board. They were faced with difficult choices. They needed to act, and the card access pilot was the choice made instead of closing the Central branch. The pilot was not perfect, but it reduced incidents and kept the library open.

[7:48 PM]: There are heckles from the public gallery. I am having difficulty hearing clearly.

[7:49 PM]: Due to the ongoing disruptions from the public gallery, the HPL Board says the gallery will be cleared. I am switching to my mobile device.

[7:57 PM]: Some of the public gallery left. The HPL Board has decided to resume with people still in the public gallery. The meeting resumes.

[7:59 PM]: And they very quickly vote unanimously to receive the staff reports. Meeting adjourned. The outcome is that the card access pilot is an available option in the event that drug use becomes a severe problem again in the future. And that’s my coverage.

Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: June 22, 2026
Last updated: June 22, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman

Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version

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