Port Hope Public Library

Libraries are among the most trusted public places in any Ontario town, and the Port Hope Public Library carries that role in a community whose own history is part of its attraction. The library's main building is the Mary J. Benson Branch, at 31 Queen Street, in the middle of Port Hope's heritage downtown, and a second branch at 5325 County Road 10 serves the northern part of the municipality in the Canton area. Both are run by an independent board of trustees on behalf of the municipality, which has a population of roughly 16,000 people, and both are open to anyone who walks in, whether resident or visitor.

The Queen Street branch is well placed for travellers. It sits within a short walk of Walton Street, the Old Town Hall, the Capitol Theatre and the Ganaraska River trail, and it offers a comfortable, quiet place to rest, read, check email or wait out bad weather. Public computers and wireless internet are generally available, which can be handy when travelling, and staff are usually glad to answer questions about the town. The collections include fiction and non-fiction for adults and children, magazines, newspapers, audiobooks, films, music and digital resources, with a good selection of material on Ontario and local history.

That local history is a draw in itself. Port Hope is a town with a layered past, from its beginnings as a lakeshore settlement named for Colonel Henry Hope to its prosperous 19th century as a harbour and mill town on the Ganaraska River, and the library maintains local history materials and archives. Photographs, newspapers, maps and records give researchers and genealogists a way to trace families and buildings. Anyone curious about the heritage district's buildings can find books on their architecture and history, which makes a useful complement to a walking tour.

The library also runs programmes for the community, such as story times for children, book clubs, author talks, computer help sessions and holiday activities. These are mainly aimed at residents, but some are open to anyone, and notices in the building or on the website show what is on.

Hours differ between the two branches and change by season, so check before visiting. Admission is free, and a library card is needed only to borrow materials. Visitors who are quiet readers, researchers or families passing through will find it a useful stop on a day in the downtown.