Borrowing Toys
Toys can be borrowed for a 2 week period. At any one time you may take 6 toys maximum (excluding summer hires). You may renew toys up to two consecutive times by contacting the librarian or online using your Toy Library login. Toy Hire concession cards may be purchased for $20. Exersaucers, baby swings and some large items are available for monthly hire.
Reserving Toys
If there is a specific toy that you have in mind you may reserve it by contacting the librarian. The librarian will contact you when the toy arrives in and you must pick it up at the next session or make suitable alternative arrangements, otherwise it will be issued to the next person on the list.
Check-in Duty
All members are required to help check in toys approximately 4 times a year (unless you have chosen the duty buy-out option). You will receive a link to the online roster and it is your responsibility to sign up for a time that suits you best. Please be at the library 15 min before opening for set-up and plan to be there 15 min after closing to pack-up. If you unable to do check-in duty, you may choose the "No Duty Buy-Out" option for $60/ membership year.
Fundraising
Members are expected to help with our annual truffle fundraising campaign in November each year. This involves 2 hours of truffle-rolling (yes, we make them all from scratch!) with your fellow toy library members. Besides being essential for the running of the toy library, it's also a great way to get to know one another!
Your Responsibilities:
Keep track of all the pieces
Many toys include a number of separate pieces and these are listed on the toy`s inventory on each bag/box. Please check that you have all the pieces when you get the toy home and contact the Librarian if anything is missing that was not noted on the "missing pieces" tag. This prevents you from being charged for loss or damage caused by someone else. Please ensure that all the pieces are there before returning the toy. When returning the toys, please let the check-in people know if there are any problems such as broken pieces.
Clean your toys
Toys must be returned clean and dry as a courtesy to your fellow members. A $5 fee may be charged in extreme cases. Plastic toys should be washed in hot soapy water; dress-ups can be hand or machine washed; larger toys should be wiped clean with a wet cloth. It is also important to dry the toys thoroughly.
Return your toys on time
Overdue fines: hire fee x weeks late per toy. If for some valid reason you are unable to return your toys by the due date please contact the Librarian and the charge may be waived. A toy that is not returned within an acceptable period will be treated as a lost toy and charged the total replacement value. The member will not be permitted to borrow from the library until the fine is paid.
Lost or damaged toys
If a toy is damaged or part of the toy is permanently lost, a charge will be made based on the age of the toy, the severity of the damage, and the effect on the toy as a whole. If the missing piece is vital to the toy or if the entire toy is lost, the borrower may be charged for the replacement cost of the toy or piece.
Batteries
All battery-operated toys have rechargable batteries. Please advise the librarian when returning toys if they require charging.
Supervision of Children
Please supervise your children while you are at the library. We endeavour to advise you of suitable age and ability levels for our toys; please read the bag labels and ask if unsure. Supervise your children while using the toys and ensure that the toys are used for their intended purpose.