Hamilton Public Library staff to support city’s vaccination rollout

Staff of the Hamilton Public Library (HPL) are stepping up to help the city’s Public Health Services (PHS) rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Over the next few months, 47 HPL Staff are supporting Hamilton Public Health’s vaccination clinics, beginning the week of March 15,” an HPL press release issued Tuesday (March 9) said.

“This is in addition to the 20 HPL Staff already assisting Public Health in various capacities since January.”

The redeployment of staff will have an impact on the library’s hours in the weeks and months to come.

Beginning Monday, March 15, HPL will be open Tuesday to Friday from 1-6 p.m. and Saturdays
1-5 .pm. Branches remain closed Sunday and Monday.

This is not the first time throughout the pandemic that the HPL has stepped up to support efforts to battle the virus.

Early on, the library manufactured PPE for front-line workers and assisted with records management and scheduling.

“Getting Hamilton residents vaccinated is most important to help save lives and move to a future without COVID-19 restrictions,” said HPL’s CEO and Chief Librarian, Paul Takala in the release.

“Thanks to HPL Staff who are assisting Public Health’s vaccination efforts and thanks to Staff who continue to serve Library Members in-branch and online.”

Working in the city’s vaccine clinics is HPL’s largest secondment in the past year.

The library’s virtual branch is always open at hpl.ca.

As of Monday, more than 46,000 vaccines have been administered in Hamilton.