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

4:00pm–4:45pm
Kids
Full
Registration Required
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Kids
Program Type: Book Clubs
Registration Required
About this event::

Join us for monthly meetings of the TCPL Tween Book Club. We will read and discuss great books together every month. Our July book will be The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud. We hope to see you there! 

LEGO Family Build Night

5:30pm–6:30pm
Families, Kids
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.

Animal Sleepover Storytime

6:00pm–6:30pm
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 pajama storytime and send your stuffed animal on an after-hours library adventure!!!

Story + Craft

4:00pm–4:45pm
Kids
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Kids
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Storytimes
About this event::

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

5:00pm–7:00pm
Adults, Kids, Teens
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Adults, 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.

Summer 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 us for songs, rhymes and books at the park next to the Henry St. John Building at 301 S.

Magic Show with 'The Great & Powerful Dave'

4:00pm–4:45pm
Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: BorgWarner Full
Age Group: Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids
Program Type: Performance
About this event::

Dave Moreland presents a high-energy 45-minute show filled with magic, comedy, puppets, and audience participation.

Family Storytime

11:00am–11:30am
Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Program Type: Storytimes
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.