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 for Open Hours - registration is not required.
More Fall Fun Yoga!
Children are welcome to join us as we celebrate autumn in a yoga series that flows with the seasons!
Slow Flow Yoga
This is an all-levels Slow Flow style yoga class, adaptable for people with different levels of fitness (it does involve sitting on a mat and standing up from the floor).
Family Storytime
Children of all ages and their caregivers are invited to celebrate reading and build their early literacy skills at Family Storytime. We meet each Saturday for stories, songs and hands-on fun.
TCPL 25 Years on East Green Street Birthday Party and Open House
TCPL 25 Years on East Green Street Birthday Party and Open House
Come celebrate Tompkins County Public Library's 25 years on East Green Street!
Ballet and Books: Seeds AND Sprouts
Please note location change for 11/8 only!
Baby & Toddler Playtime
Baby & Toddler Playtime is an unstructured play and social time for children and caregivers offering a warm, child-friendly space with books and age-appropriate toys.
Tech Basics 101
Join students from Cornell University's Digital Tech & Innovation Project Team for a workshop focused on teaching older adults in the community how to become more comfortable with using technology they own.