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

SingSong Music Class Series

10:00am–10:45am
Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Full
Registration Required
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Program Type: Music
Registration Required
About this event::

Back again by popular demand! Sign your kiddo up for this four-week music class series with local musician and music-educator Amy Puryear.

Early Reader Book Club

3:00pm–3:45pm
Families, Kids
Waitlist
Registration Required
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Families, Kids
Program Type: Book Clubs
Registration Required
About this event::

Children in grades K-2 are welcome to join our Early Reader Book Club.

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.

Code Quest

3:00pm–3:45pm
Kids
Full
Registration Required
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Kids
Program Type: Other
Registration Required
About this event::

This 4-week class will teach the basics of programming through play-based activities. We will use Sphero Indi robots to practice with algorithms, sequencing, and debugging. Join us and discover the joy of computational thinking. (Ages 5-7)

Animal Sleepover Storytime

6:00pm–6:30pm
Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids
Program Type: Storytimes
Registration Required
About this event::

Join us for a pajama storytime and send your stuffed animal on an after-hours library adventure!!!

GO ITHACA Open Hours

2:00pm–4:00pm
Adults, Families
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Avenue of the Friends
Age Group: Adults, Families
Program Type: Community Groups, Other
About this event::

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: Pumpkin Carving Edition!

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::

Instead of our usual Story + Craft, today we will be outside on the creek walk for Pumpkin Carving and Decorating following a Halloween-themed story. Come join us!

Pumpkin Carving & Decorating

4:00pm–5:00pm
Adults, Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids, Teens
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Creek Walk
Age Group: Adults, Families, Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers, Kids, Teens
Program Type: Arts & Crafts
About this event::

All ages are invited to join us for a pumpkin carving and decorating party! All decorating supplies and pumpkins will be provided by the Library while supplies last. We will meet outdoors near the Creek Walk, behind the Library.