In August 2025, a fire broke out at the dairy next to Hillcrest Library. As a result, the library is temporarily closed. We understand how much Hillcrest Library means to the community, and we’re working hard to get answers for you.

What happened?
The fire caused significant damage to the dairy, which was part of the same Council-owned building as the library. We’re working to keep the site and people safe, liaising with insurance providers, and determining the next steps for both the building and the library.

What we’ve done so far:

  • Secured the building for safety.

  • Started our insurance processes.

  • Made alternative arrangements for holds, returns and programmes.

  • Looked into location options for a pop-up library.

  • Had the Hillcrest Library building checked by a structural engineer to make sure it’s safe for contractors to enter.

  • Arranged a book conservator to assess the condition of our Hillcrest collection.

  • Started preparing a plan for approval of a pop-up library.

  • Extended return dates for a month for Hillcrest customers who aren’t able to get to another library.

What’s still to come:

  • A decision on where and when we will have a pop-up library – coming soon!

  • The acceptance of our insurance claims is a significant milestone, allowing us to understand what’s next, including our collection at Hillcrest.

  • Internal strip-out of damaged wall linings, flooring, and ceiling material to understand the full extent of the damage.

  • Council to decide what the next steps are for the building.

Frequently asked questions

Books can be returned to any other Hamilton City Libraries branch or some Hamilton City Council facilities. Return dates for Hillcrest customers have been extended by one month.

All holds that would have gone to Hillcrest are being sent to Chartwell Library. If you have a hold but would prefer to pick it up from a different library, contact our team and we can arrange that for you.

We don’t know yet. Now we can safely re-enter the building, a book conservator is checking the condition of the books and the result is an important part of our insurance processes.

Yes, we’re working on a plan for a pop-up library. Location and timing will hopefully be announced before the end of September. 

It’s too early to say. We need the insurance processes, strip-out and indicative costs for fixing the building before we know any timeframes.

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