Caregivers & Teachers

Caregivers & Teachers

Find help for your little learners!

 

Homeschooling

Download our Homeschool Resource Guide!
 

Books

Check out our resources on homeschooling in call number 371.042 and visit our Juvenile Literature section (J-L) for reading suggestions and tips to engage young readers.

Here are two great booklists to get you started:

Education Focus: Homeschooling

Homeschooling Resources: High School Curriculum Guide
 

Databases

Visit our library databases for kids:

  • Kids InfoBits: This database for children ages 5-10 features full-text content from elementary reference sources and magazines. Kids InfoBits covers geography, current events, the arts and sciences, people, government, history, and more.
  • Brittanica School: Offers age-appropriate levels for conducting research, completing homework assignments, and working on special projects in the library or at home. Also available in Spanish at Brittanica Escolar.
  • TumbleBooks: TumbleBooks is an online collection of animated, talking books which are created from existing books. TumbleBooks also includes puzzles, games and quizzes and a collection of books in foreign languages. The entire site can also be viewed in Spanish and French.
     

World Language Collection

We have books for all ages in over 40 languages! Learning a new language? We have audiobooks, instructional DVDs, books and Mango, an online language-learning tool.
 

Local & Regional Resources

Find support in the community for homeschoolers, unschoolers & funschoolers in our Homeschool Resource Guide.

 

Resources for Families of Children with Autism & SPD

Sensory Station

You'll find weighted lap pads, noise-cancelling earmuffs, fidgets and other sensory tools to use during your visit to the library.
 

Interactive Storybook Collection

Books that feature clear illustrations, easy-to-follow text, easy-turn pages and movable pieces, encouraging children to connect with the story through hands-on interaction.

 

Virtual Tour

You can prepare for your visit by viewing our tour of what you'll see when you're here.
 

Local & Regional Resources

Find support in the community for your family with our guide.

 

Kids Discover the Trail

TCPL welcomes all of the kindergarteners in the Ithaca City & Trumansburg School Districts for special class visits. Two classes from different schools attend the fieldtrip and each child is buddied up with a kindergartener from another class. Together we celebrate our library, reading and books! Learn more here.

 

Class & Camp Visits at the Library

Classes and groups are always welcome to visit and use our Library. Please plan to accompany your class or group when they come to the library. If your class or group will require special attention from library staff (story time, library orientation, assistance with using the library's resources) please contact us to make arrangements at least two weeks in advance. For more information regarding individual library card registration prior to class visits, see our information brochure.

 

Institution Cards

In order to apply for a School/Institution Library Card, the Chief Operating Officer/Director/Principal must complete the Institution Card Application (the form is also available at the Circulation desk). No ID is required.

Please provide the Institution’s federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)  on the application, as well as a letter on company letterhead.

The COO/Director/Principal does not need to be present as long as the Institution representative has a completed form and letterhead. Please bring both to the Circulation Desk to apply for the card.

The card must be signed by the COO/Director/Principal. The account is accessible to up to three additional individuals (named on the application) with photo I.D.

 

Upcoming Kids Events

This event is in the "Families" group.
This event is in the "Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers" group.
This event is in the "Kids" group.
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: BorgWarner West
Age Group: Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids
Program Type: Storytimes, Other
About this event::
Join us for a celebration of Pride - family style - with fun LGBTQIA+ stories and sing-a-longs; make a festive pride fairy flower crown, and then join us for a fun dance party with DJ Woodrow!  ...
This event is in the "Families" group.
This event is in the "Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers" group.
This event is in the "Kids" group.

Spanish Storytime

4:00pm - 5:00pm
Cancelled
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids
Program Type: Storytimes
About this event::
Children of all ages and their caregivers are welcome to join us for Spanish storytime - songs, rhymes, stories, and crafts - completely in Spanish! Fun for the whole family, this storytime is a wonderful chance to be immersed in the Spanish lan...
This event is in the "Kids" group.
This event is in the "Teens" group.

Tween Book Club: Among the Hidden

4:30pm - 5:30pm
Cancelled
Registration
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Online
Age Group: Kids, Teens
Program Type: Book Clubs
About this event::
Children ages 9-13 are welcome to join our Tween Book Club! Book Club will meet virtually. In June we will read Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Participants are welcome to bring suggestions for future books or genres to read togeth...
This event is in the "Families" group.
This event is in the "Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers" group.
This event is in the "Kids" group.
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Ezra Cornell Reading Room
Age Group: Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids
Program Type: Music, Storytimes
About this event::
Tompkins County Public Library, in partnership with the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, will present a free concert for children and families. This storytime will feature a quartet of Cayuga Chamber Orchestra musicians and will end with an "instrument pett...
This event is in the "Families" group.
This event is in the "Kids" group.
This event is in the "Teens" group.
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Makerspace
Age Group: Families, Kids, Teens
Program Type: Makerspace, STEAM, Technology Class
About this event::
It's robot racing time! TCPL is inviting youth 8+, Teens, and families to a weekly robot race in the Makerspace! Each week participants will be challenged to program and tune a robot car to achieve the fastest time on the track. A new track will b...
This event is in the "Families" group.
This event is in the "Kids" group.

Early Readers Book Club

3:00pm - 3:45pm
Waitlist
Registration
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Families, Kids
Program Type: Book Clubs
Registration Required
Seats Remaining: 0
About this event::
Children in grades K-2 are welcome to join our Early Readers Book Club. This program is meant to introduce excellent emerging reader books to children who have graduated from storytime and are being introduced to more formal “learn-to-read” technique...
This event is in the "Families" group.
This event is in the "Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers" group.
This event is in the "Kids" group.

Spanish Storytime

4:00pm - 5:00pm
Cancelled
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids
Program Type: Storytimes
About this event::
Children of all ages and their caregivers are welcome to join us for Spanish storytime - songs, rhymes, stories, and crafts - completely in Spanish! Fun for the whole family, this storytime is a wonderful chance to be immersed in the Spanish lan...
This event is in the "Families" group.
This event is in the "Kids" group.
This event is in the "Teens" group.
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Makerspace
Age Group: Families, Kids, Teens
Program Type: Makerspace, STEAM, Technology Class
About this event::
It's robot racing time! TCPL is inviting youth 8+, Teens, and families to a weekly robot race in the Makerspace! Each week participants will be challenged to program and tune a robot car to achieve the fastest time on the track. A new track will b...