Play & Learn
Our Youth Services staff is thrilled to welcome you to our department.
What You'll Find Here:
Play Area
Join the fun with toy trucks, blocks, a magnetic board and lots of other toys along with our Reading Zoo, a special kid-sized room.
Games & Puzzles
Play board and card games or put together puzzles for toddlers, preschoolers and elementary-aged children.
Computers
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.
Sensory Station
Find weighted lap pads, noise-cancelling earmuffs, fidgets and other sensory tools.
Virtual Tour
Take a trip through our department with our Visual Guide to TCPL.
Upcoming Events
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.
Sit! Stay! Read!
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 Mondays from 3-4 p.m. Children who attend 6 sessions will earn a FREE book of their choice!
LEGO Family Build Night
TCPL invites families to a weekly LEGO build night! Buckets of LEGO will be provided for participants to borrow for their builds.
Chinese Bilingual Storytime/中英双语故事会
Join us for a special Chinese-English bilingual storytime!
TCPL Community Engagement at GIAC
Tompkins County Public Library invites you to a focus group discussion on the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan and Library Use.
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.
Baby & Toddler Storytime
Caregivers and their children are invited to join Cassie for music, rhymes, movement and books. Storytime will be followed by a playtime from 11-12. Come and join the fun while building early literacy skills!