The following are my (Joey Coleman) live posts as published on my BlueSky account during the February 18, 2026 Hamilton Public Library Board of Directors meeting.
The primary issue facing the Library Board is a growing drug use and behaviour issues crisis inside the Central library branch. Hamilton’s Chief Librarian is considering a temporary closure while renovations and other measures are put in place to ensure a safe environment for staff, patrons, families, and children.
Live Posts:
6:14 PM: CHANGE IN STREAM LOCATION — Hamilton Public Library Board is here, now on YouTube: www.youtube.com/live/GxA0VjzBOpg #HamOnt #yhmcc
6:21 PM: Today’s meeting began with a delegation by Evan Ubene, who is calling for the City to provide more resources to assist the unhoused, to stop repeatedly displacing individuals by removing encampments.
6:23 PM: Evan Ubene notes he wrote an op-ed on how the City is responding to homelessness/housing, that it is not working. Here’s the op-ed link: www.thespec.com/opinion/cont…
6:25 PM: Beginning of the first public portion of the Board discussion regarding the situation at the Central Library. Chief Librarian Paul Takala says the Library must provide a safe environment for everyone.
6:27 PM: Takala: people are distributing drugs inside the central library, which is a new problem. Says the drug situation and disruptions have become much more serious since November. Police are responding.
6:29 PM: HPL Facilities Director Chad Roglich says the Central branch Sunday closure was necessary due to the number of overdoses and situations that were occurring at the same time — not enough staff and support.
6:33 PM: HPL Manager of Information Services Sarah Gauthier, who oversees the HPL’s social support/service workers and outreach staff, speaks about the services the HPL is offering to try and assist.
6:33 PM: Gauthier says the Library is being overwhelmed, and having to do washroom closures “every single day” and lists the numbers — hundreds of security responses in recent weeks. #yhmcc
6:37 PM: Hamilton Chief Librarian Paul Takala says the Central library has “become defacto a safe consumption site,” that it “is not helpful” for people to suggest the library should be a SCS, and the “library needs to be a library.”
6:40 PM: Takala talks about the “reality we have to deal with” regarding the lack of direct Provincial funding of libraries — that the 1995 cuts by Premier Mike Harris remain in effect today.
6:44 PM: HPL Board Mbr Kojo Damptey: Is Sunday closure due to staff complement? What does closure mean for the HPL as a public service? Is it possible to request all MPPs to be brought together at the Central branch?
6:45 PM: HPL Board Mbr Kojo Damptey says Mayor Andrea Horwath should be invited to visit the Central Library and see the issues firsthand. #yhmcc
6:46 PM: HPL Chief Librarian Paul Takala says one of the challenges on Sunday is that the overnight encampments that form on York Blvd are not removed on Sundays, blocking the doorway.
6:50 PM: Takala says the challenges are growing, that drugs are being dealt openly beside the Children’s Area. He says he will be inviting all five Hamilton area Members of Provincial Parliament.
6:53 PM: HPL Board Mbr Carly Whitmore, who is a health care worker, says there are two truths the Library is facing — that people are being deprived of housing and supports, and that the Library must be safe.
6:53 PM: HPL Takala says the problems and usage decrease are only at the Central branch. He notes this conversation is not good for the Library, as people hear about these problems and do not visit.
6:57 PM: HPL Board Member Brie Berry asks about the impacts of responding to drug overdoses and behavioural issues on Library staff. Manager answers it is primarily a security staff response, with regular check-ins.
6:58 PM: HPL Board Member Alison Griggs comments that the Board must keep staff in mind and the impacts on them of dealing with crises. [Board will discuss labour relations requirements in closed session.]
7:00 PM: HPL Board Member Dayna Firth notes the labour relations impacts, safe workplace requirements, and that the crises could become a workplace refusal issue. Notes the need for Central and Barton branches.
7:06 PM: Chief Librarian Paul Takala continuing to discuss the impacts of the Central branch drug overdoses and behaviour issues on the ability of staff to complete the work of the Library. #yhmcc
7:10 PM: Ward 2 Clr Cameron Kroetsch, a Library Board Member, says many services that people needed in the Downtown Core have left in recent years, and that the Province has closed safe consumption sites. “People need to be somewhere.”
7:11 PM: He says “this issue is much bigger” than what the Library can address — wider societal issues, and “not permitting people to exist.” #yhmcc
7:13 PM: Ward 15 Clr Ted McMeekin, a Library Board Member, says he is sympathetic to those with addictions, but there are times that some of the behaviours cannot be accepted and there are “tough choices” to be made.
7:16 PM: Chief Librarian Takala is providing some wrapping-up remarks for this first discussion regarding Central Library. The Board still needs to go into closed session on this issue. #yhmcc
7:24 PM: I will resume live updates when the Library Board returns to open session, or makes further comment regarding these matters. [I am unsure of the HPL Board’s plan for closed session.] #yhmcc
8:09 PM: The Hamilton Library Board is now discussing Mayor Andrea Horwath’s Strong Mayor Budget plan to cap the Library budget below what the HPL needs. As it stands, the Mayor’s budget cap against the Library was opposed 9 to 7, but Mayor Horwath can veto Council support for the Library. #yhmcc
8:34 PM: There is no second public discussion to follow closed session. I expect we’ll learn more from the Chief Librarian tomorrow (Thursday) regarding what actions may be forthcoming regarding the Central branch. #yhmcc
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: February 18, 2026
Last updated: February 18, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version