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
This event is in the "Kids" group.
Feb
2
2023
Thu
Registration
Library Branch:
Tompkins County Public Library
Room:
Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group:
Kids
Program Type:
Other
Registration Required
Seats Remaining: 0
About this event::
Tweens (kids ages 9-12) are invited to learn about the beauty and diversity of the continent of Africa - its folktales, its cultures, its people. Join Narda Bondah for a multimedia celebration of this continent and its countries! Registra...
This event is in the "Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers" group.
Feb
3
2023
Fri
Registration
This event is in the "Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers" group.
Feb
3
2023
Fri
Library Branch:
Tompkins County Public Library
Room:
Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group:
Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Program Type:
Storytimes
Registration Required
Seats Remaining:
57
About this event::
Caregivers and their babies are invited to join Cassie for songs, rhymes, movement and books. Following storytime each week, we'll have a baby playtime from 11 am - noon.
Registration is not required. To receive a weekly email update with t...
This event is in the "Families" group.
This event is in the "Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers" group.
Feb
4
2023
Sat
Registration
This event is in the "Families" group.
This event is in the "Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers" group.
Feb
4
2023
Sat
Library Branch:
Tompkins County Public Library
Room:
Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group:
Families,
Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Program Type:
Storytimes
Registration Required
Seats Remaining: Unlimited
About this event::
Children of all ages and their caregivers are invited to celebrate reading and build their early literacy skills every week at Family Storytime!
Registration is not required. To receive email reminders about Family Storytime, contact Kelly at kdoo...
This event is in the "Families" group.
This event is in the "Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers" group.
Feb
7
2023
Tue
Registration
This event is in the "Families" group.
This event is in the "Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers" group.
Feb
7
2023
Tue
Library Branch:
Tompkins County Public Library
Room:
Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group:
Families,
Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Program Type:
Storytimes
Registration Required
Seats Remaining: Unlimited
About this event::
Children of all ages and their caregivers are invited to celebrate reading and build their early literacy skills every week at Family Storytime!
Registration is not required. To receive email reminders about Family Storytime, contact Kelly at kdoo...
This event is in the "Families" group.
This event is in the "Kids" group.
Feb
7
2023
Tue
Registration
This event is in the "Families" group.
This event is in the "Kids" group.
Feb
7
2023
Tue
Library Branch:
Tompkins County Public Library
Room:
Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group:
Families,
Kids
Program Type:
Book Clubs
Registration Required
Seats Remaining: 0
About this event::
Children in grades K-2 are welcome to join our Early Readers Book Club. This program is meant to introduce excellent emerging reader books to children who have graduated from storytime and are being introduced to more formal “learn-to-read” technique...
This event is in the "Families" group.
Feb
7
2023
Tue
LEGO Build Night for Families
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Library Branch:
Tompkins County Public Library
Room:
Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group:
Families
About this event::
TCPL is inviting 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.
...
This event is in the "Kids" group.
This event is in the "Teens" group.
Feb
8
2023
Wed
Registration
This event is in the "Kids" group.
This event is in the "Teens" group.
Feb
8
2023
Wed
Library Branch:
Tompkins County Public Library
Room:
Online
Age Group:
Kids,
Teens
Program Type:
Book Clubs
Registration Required
Seats Remaining:
2
About this event::
Children ages 9-13 are welcome to join our Tween Book Club! Book Club will meet virtually via Zoom. Participants are welcome to bring suggestions for future books or genres to read together! Registration is required as space is limited. Register...
This event is in the "Kids" group.
Feb
9
2023
Thu
Registration
Library Branch:
Tompkins County Public Library
Room:
Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group:
Kids
Program Type:
Other
Registration Required
Seats Remaining:
5
About this event::
Tweens (kids ages 9-12) are invited to learn about the beauty and diversity of the continent of Africa - its folktales, its cultures, its people. Join Narda Bondah for a multimedia celebration of this continent and its countries! Registra...