Local History & Genealogy
From books, to maps, and everything in between, you can find a variety of digitized materials from our local history collection. Partial funding for digitization was made possible through a grant from the Park Foundation to encourage sustainability through remote access of library materials.
You can also access HeritageQuest Online from our library computers to search census records, books, and documents for information about your ancestors. Want to search HeritageQuest from home? Log into your account, click on the Online Databases tab, and then select "Genealogy & Family Research" to see links for HeritageQuest and New York Heritage.
We can provide limited research on topics of local history or interest where the information sought is unique to the collection of the library. The Tompkins County Research Service is available to individuals and/or organizations for whom it is impossible to visit the library in person.
For additional resources, visit the following websites:
The History Center in Tompkins County
New York Heritage Digital Collections
Library of Congress New York State Guide
The Library of Congress web guide contains a variety of materials specifically relating to New York State, including manuscripts, documents, photos, books and maps. This site also provides links to websites such as:
The U.S. GenWeb Project
Genealogy websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States.
Cayuga Heights History Project
Upcoming Events
Makerspace Open Hours
Drop-in open hours, no registration required. Come for a short tour, or stay and work on a project - we have lots of art supplies and ideas to get you making!
Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Family Concert Series
Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Family Concert Series
Get swept up in the magic created by great stories and live music as the CCO and Tompkins County Public Library (TCPL) join forces for our annual Family Concert & Storytime Series, now in its eleventh season! We select a different childr
Ages 8 to 108 Board Game Club
Are you between the ages of 8 and 108 and love playing board games? Then come join our board game club at TCPL! We meet in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room on Thursdays from 5 to 7pm.
Life Skills: Dollars and Decisions
An engaging 8-week course designed to provide the real-world money skills that kids actually need.
Office of Mental Health Community Engagement Session
Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) invites the community to attend a Community Engagement Session with New York State Office of Mental Health (NYS OMH). These events are free and open to the public; light refreshments will be served.
Early Fall Baby & Toddler Storytime
Caregivers and their children are invited to join Cassie at the park next to the Henry St. John Building at 301 S. Geneva St. for music, rhymes, movement and books.
Makerspace Open Hours
Drop-in for Open Hours - registration is not required.
Fall Fun Yoga Series
Children are welcome to join us as we welcome autumn in a yoga series that flows with the seasons!