Play & Learn

Play & Learn

Our Youth Services staff is thrilled to welcome you to our department.

What You'll Find Here:

Play Area

Reading Zoo

Join the fun with puzzles, trains, a play kitchen and more along with our Reading Zoo, a special kid-sized room.

STEAM!

STEAM Cart

Let your imagination fly with our STEAM cart full of supplies for your next creation.

Computers

Kid at Computer

We offer internet computers for children aged 5-12 and their parents along with our Early Learning Stations loaded with games for the younger children.

Reader Is In

Reading to Kids

Hear a story read by our wonderful volunteers during your visit.

Maker Is In

Makerspace kid

Volunteers engage children & families in using our more high-tech STEAM supplies such as robots and snap circuits.

Sensory Station

Kid Reading

Find weighted lap pads, noise-cancelling earmuffs, fidgets and other sensory tools.

Virtual Tour

A trip through out department with "Visual Guide to TCPL".

Upcoming Events

Tween Board Game Club

3:30pm - 5:00pm
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: BorgWarner West
Age Group: Kids
Program Type: Classes and Workshops
About this event::
Children ages 8-12 are invited to explore and learn new board games each week with Mike Timonin, local board game aficionado! All kinds of great games to choose from! Put on your strategic thinking cap and join us! Feel free to join in and play ...

Toddler & Preschool Storytime

11:00am - 12:30pm
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Program Type: Storytimes
About this event::
Toddlers, preschoolers and their caregivers are invited every Tuesday for early literacy-based stories, songs, finger plays and much more! After storytime, stay for an hour of play and social time. ...

Sit! Stay! Read!

3:00pm - 4:00pm
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Kids
Program Type: Classes and Workshops, Other
About this event::
Children are invited to practice their reading skills by sharing a story with a truly non-judgmental listener -- a dog! Reading sessions will be held Tuesdays from 3-4 p.m. Children who attend 6 sessions will earn a FREE book of their choice! Co-s...

STEAM Book Club

3:45pm - 4:45pm
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Kids
Program Type: STEAM, Book Clubs
About this event::
Children ages 8-12 are invited to a STEAM-themed (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) book club. Registration is required. Register and pick up your free copy of the book at the Youth Services Reference Desk. Refreshments will be served. ...

Tween Coding Club

4:45pm - 5:45pm
Registration
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Digital Lab
Age Group: Kids
Program Type: STEAM, Classes and Workshops, Digital Lab, Technology Class
Registration Required
Waitlist Seats Remaining: 2
About this event::
Make it light up and learn to code! This program is all about expressing yourself through computer programming. We'll be using the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express, a small microcontroller with big possibilities, to learn the basics of coding...

Bilingual Chinese-English Family Storytime

11:30am - 12:30pm
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids
Program Type: Storytimes
About this event::
Please join other families and friends to enjoy songs, rhymes and stories in Mandarin and English. Children of all ages and their caregivers are welcome to join us. ...

Family Concert with Cayuga Chamber Orchestra

4:00pm - 5:00pm
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Ezra Cornell Reading Room
Age Group: Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids, Teens
Program Type: Performance, 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...

Baby Storytime & Playtime

10:30am - 12:00pm
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Program Type: Storytimes
About this event::
Caregivers and newborns up to 24 months are invited for music, rhymes, movement and books at 10:30. After storytime, stay for an hour of play and social time. ...