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 toy trucks, blocks, a magnetic board and lots of other toys along with our Reading Zoo, a special kid-sized room.

 

 

Games & Puzzles

game boxes

Play board and card games or put together puzzles for toddlers, preschoolers and elementary-aged children. 

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.

 

 

 

 

Sensory Station

Kid Reading

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

Chinese Bilingual Storytime/中英双语故事会

4:30pm–5:00pm
Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids
Program Type: Storytimes
About this event::

Join us for a special Chinese-English bilingual storytime!

Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Family Concert Series

4:00pm–5:00pm
Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Ezra Cornell Reading Room
Age Group: Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids
Program Type: Music, Performance, Storytimes
About this event::

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

5:00pm–7:00pm
Adults, Families, Kids, Teens
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Adults, Families, Kids, Teens
Program Type: Other
About this event::

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

6:00pm–7:00pm
Kids, Teens
Full
Registration Required
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Digital Lab
Age Group: Kids, Teens
Program Type: Classes and Workshops
Registration Required
About this event::

An engaging 8-week course designed to provide the real-world money skills that kids actually need. 

Office of Mental Health Community Engagement Session

9:00am–11:00am
Adults, Families, Kids, Teens
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: BorgWarner East
Age Group: Adults, Families, Kids, Teens
Program Type: Community Groups, Health & Wellness
About this event::

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

10:30am–11:00am
Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Off Site
Age Group: Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Program Type: Storytimes
About this event::

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.

Fall Fun Yoga Series

4:00pm–4:45pm
Kids
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Kids
Program Type: Classes and Workshops
Registration Required
About this event::

Children are welcome to join us as we welcome autumn in a yoga series that flows with the seasons!

TCPL Foundation READATHON

10:30am–2:30pm
Adults, Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids, Teens
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Avenue of the Friends
Age Group: Adults, Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids, Teens
Program Type: Community Read, Fundraisers
About this event::

The TCPL Foundation's annual read-out-loud challenge to raise funds for Tompkins County Public Library, the READATHON enlists readers to raise funds for TCPL, culminating in a day-long celebration of lit