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

Tween Book Club - Inside Out & Back Again

4:00pm - 4:45pm
Full
Registration
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Kids, Teens
Program Type: Book Clubs
Registration Required
Seats Remaining: 3
About this event::
Readers ages 10-14 are welcome to join our Tween Book Club!  For April we will read Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai. Registration is required as space is limited. Register online and receive a free copy of the book (we'll sen...

TCPL Robotics Club: Robot Wrestling

4:00pm - 5:30pm
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Makerspace
Age Group: Families, Kids, Teens
Program Type: STEAM, Technology Class
About this event::
TCPL invites youth 8+, Teens, and families to a weekly robot wrestling in the Makerspace! Each week participants will be challenged to program and tune a robot to be the last one standing in the arena. TCPL will provide three kinds of robots: Auto...

Spring Baby & Toddler Storytime

10:30am - 11:00am
Full
Registration
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Program Type: Storytimes
Registration Required
Seats Remaining: Unlimited
About this event::
Caregivers with toddlers and babies are invited to join Cassie for songs, rhymes, movement and books. Following storytime each week, we'll have a baby & toddler playtime from 11 am - noon. Registration is not needed but to receive a weekl...

Family Storytime

11:00am - 11:30am
Open
Registration
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Program Type: Storytimes
Registration Required
Seats Remaining: 57
About this event::
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. Just drop in or register to get a reminder email! ...

TCPL Robotics Club: Monthly Robot Racing

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Makerspace
Age Group: Families, Kids, Teens
Program Type: STEAM, Technology Class
About this event::
It's robot racing time! TCPL is inviting youth 8+, Teens, and families to a monthly robot race in the Makerspace! Each month participants will be challenged to program and tune a robot car to achieve the fastest time on the track. A new track will...

Library Open

1:00pm - 5:00pm
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Library - Public Area and Stacks
Age Group: Adults, Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids, Teens

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 Mondays from 3-4 p.m. Children who attend 6 sessions will earn a FREE book of their choice! Co-sp...

LEGO Build Night for Families

5:30pm - 6:30pm
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Families, Kids
Program Type: STEAM, Other
About this event::
TCPL invites families to a weekly LEGO build night! Buckets of LEGO will be provided for participants to borrow for their builds. Participants will also have the opportunity to display their creations in the Youth Services section for one week. ...