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 "Kids" group.

Story + Craft

3:30pm - 4:30pm
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 "Adults" group.
This event is in the "Families" group.
This event is in the "Kids" group.
This event is in the "Teens" group.

Ages 8 to 108 Board Game Club

5:00pm - 7:00pm
Adults, Families, Kids, Teens
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Adults, Families, Kids, Teens
Program Type: Other
About this event::

If you are between the ages of 8 and 108, come join our board game club at TCPL! We meet in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room on Thursdays from 5 to 7pm.

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

Late Fall 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 us 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.

Spanish Storytime

4:30pm - 5:00pm
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::

Children of all ages and their caregivers are welcome to join us for Spanish storytime - songs, rhymes, stories, and crafts - completely in Spanish!

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 "Kids" group.

Sit! Stay! Read!

2:45pm - 4:00pm
Kids
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: BorgWarner West
Age Group: Kids
Program Type: Classes and Workshops, Other
About this event::

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!

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

Early Readers Book Club

3:00pm - 3:45pm
Families, Kids
Open
Registration
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Families, Kids
Program Type: Book Clubs
Registration Required
Seats Remaining: 1
About this event::

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

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

LEGO Build Night for Families

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.