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!
Preschool Art Studio
Toddlers and preschoolers will have the opportunity to have open exploration and discovery with a variety of arts & crafts materials!
Funding provided by the Margaret Johnstone Hilton Children's Endowment Fund
Tween Book Club
Join us for monthly meetings of the TCPL Tween Book Club – the second Tuesday of every month. We will read and discuss great books together, play games, eat snacks, and laugh a lot. Best for ages 8-12. We hope to see you there!
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.
GO ITHACA Open Hours
Join GO ITHACA for Open Hours at TCPL!
GO ITHACA is proud to help transform transportation in Tompkins County! Our program makes sustainable commuting accessible and affordable for everyone.
With our membership, you get:
Story + Craft
Story + Craft is our weekly reading + creating event for children! Join us for a read-aloud, followed by art-making or a guided craft. Best for children 5 and up, but younger are welcome with an adult to assist.
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.