Spring and summer construction at Mills Memorial Library

by Libraries Communications - March 25, 2026

Planned renovations will result in the temporary closure of some library spaces at Mills in late April after final exams conclude. 

An artist's illustration of the exterior of the southeast side of Mills Memorial Library featuring large windows and a green facade.
An architectural rendering of the southeast side of Mills Memorial Library.

Construction set for this spring and summer will temporarily impact library patron access to some areas of Mills Memorial Library.

The project includes the replacement of the windows and façade due to age and condition on the southeast sides of Mills Memorial Library. 

The library will remain open during this time. However, noise from construction is expected. 

Work is set to begin April 23 (the day after the end of the exam period) and anticipated to be concluded by the end of August, with the possibility of extending into September if needed. 

The following spaces in Mills will be closed to library patrons during construction:

  • Mills Learning Commons (second floor)
    • Second-floor washrooms, water fountain, popular reading collection, and vending machines will still be available.
  • Lyons New Media Centre (fourth floor)
    • A pop-up service for equipment booking and 3D print pickup will be located on the fourth floor in the foyer during the closure of Lyons News Media Centre. For more information, visit the Lyons website or email Lyons. 
  • Sixth floor silent study
    • A variety of alternative study spaces are available on other floors of the library.
  • Tower entrance (off Sterling Street)
    • The library’s main entrance across from McMaster Student Centre will remain open while the tower entrance is closed.
  • Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship (main floor) 
    • The Sherman Centre will be closed once construction starts outside the area, however there will be no changes to services offerings. Details will be shared on the Sherman website. For more information, email the Sherman Centre.

Other building spaces that will be temporarily impacted by construction are the McMaster Health Forum and the MacPherson Institute.

Library patrons looking for a quieter space are encouraged to visit H.G. Thode Library of Science and Engineering or Health Sciences Library during construction at Mills.


More information

Closures due to construction will be posted in the alert banner on the libraries’ homepage. Additional project information is available on the libraries’ FAQ webpage.