Hamilton’s Chief Librarian states the HPL is taking measures to address drug use inside libraries with “clear message” that “drug use is not allowed in the library.”
“We welcome vulnerable people,” Paul Takala said, “but the library is not a place to use [drugs].”
Takala said drug overdoses are a challenge at libraries and the Hamilton Public Library is “looking at securing the washrooms” and requiring people to be “buzzed in” to use washroom facilities.
He said the Library is concerned that with the closure of supervised consumption sites, people may seek to use the indoor space of library washrooms to consume drugs.
“With the colder weather coming, there is a significant risk that drug consumption will be displaced into the Central Library,” Takala wrote in a report provided to the Library Board on Wednesday. “We will begin engaging with people and relevant organizations to remind people that drug use is not allowed in the library, as it is undermining our ability to provide an environment that is welcoming to all, including families with children.”
The Library is planning to relocate the children’s area at the Central Library from the first floor due to ongoing incidents that are causing parents to avoid bringing their children to the library.
In April, a 115-signature petition calling on City Council to designate libraries as “safe drug consumption sites” was met with widespread opposition in the community, including by the Hamilton Public Library, and gained no support when presented to City Council.
HPL Creates ‘Community Connector’ Role as It Seeks to Be Proactive and Decrease Security Costs
The Library is “on a multi-year path to decrease over-reliance and overspending on contract security,” Takala informed the Board. “We are creating new HPL staff positions called Community Connectors. These roles will specialize in de-escalation and proactive intervention. We are starting with two positions that are being funded by not filling other internal vacancies.”
Takala said the Library needs to ensure its spaces are welcoming for everyone, but ultimately, the Library cannot be all things.
“We need to be a library.”
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Published: November 21, 2025
Last updated: November 21, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
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