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

This event is in the "Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers" group

SingSong Music Class Series

10:00am–10:45am
Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Waitlist
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::

SingSong is a fun-filled class for little ones and parents/caregivers to enjoy music together in a circle setting.

This event is in the "Adults" group
This event is in the "Families" group
This event is in the "Teens" group

NARCAN TRAINING WITH REACH

4:00pm–5:00pm
Adults, Families, Teens
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: BorgWarner East
Age Group: Adults, Families, Teens
Program Type: Classes and Workshops, Health & Wellness
About this event::

Join the REACH Project to learn how to recognize an overdose, respond to an overdose emergency, and administer NARCAN. This skill could help you to save a life. 

This event is in the "Kids" group

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. 

This event is in the "Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers" group

Baby & Toddler Storytime

10:30am–11:00am
Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Program Type: Storytimes
About this event::

Caregivers and their children are invited to join Cassie for music, rhymes, movement and books. Storytime will be followed by a playtime from 11-12.  Come and join the fun while building early literacy skills!

This event is in the "Families" group
This event is in the "Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers" group
This event is in the "Kids" group

Chinese Bilingual Storytime/中英双语故事会

3:00pm–3:30pm
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 special Chinese-English bilingual storytime every first and third Friday each month!

This event is in the "Kids" group

Study Buddies

10:30am–11:30am
Kids
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Schwarz Jacobson Meeting Room
Age Group: Kids
Program Type: Other
Registration Required
About this event::

The study buddies program is brought to you for Ithaca students, by Ithaca students. High school student volunteers will be matched up with younger students for homework help and general tutoring.

This event is in the "Families" group
This event is in the "Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers" group

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.

This event is in the "Families" group
This event is in the "Kids" group
This event is in the "Teens" group

Family Movies at TCPL- If

2:00pm–4:00pm
Families, Kids, Teens
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Families, Kids, Teens
Program Type: Film Screenings
About this event::

Join us for an afternoon movie on our “Big Screen” in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room. This Saturday we will be screening the family film IF.