It works just like a regular book library, except you borrow toys instead of books! Once every two weeks you head down to the library, choose some toys and get them issued by the librarian. You will be given a receipt showing what toys you have on loan and the date they are due back. At home, you check that all pieces are there and then enjoy your kids spending time with these new toys. Toys are due back 14 days from issue, but you have 1 week grace period to allow for sick kids etc.
Usually you can renew your toys for another 14 days if you’d like. This can be done by yourself on the member section of our website (only once and before due) or by email. You will also be asked to renew any toy with missing pieces or packaging, so it pays to spend some time packing them all up and then put them “out of sight” before you come.
Just as you need to take a bit of extra care with books you’ve borrowed from the library, you need to look after the toys, i.e.. make sure you keep track of all the pieces, don’t leave toys outside in the rain or where they might be stolen, ensure your children don’t misuse or break the toys and finally clean and dry the toys before you return them.
The easiest way is to complete online enrolment here. However, you can also do this when you come in, if you prefer.
We prefer a internet transfer as payment but also accept cash for your subs. You will also be asked for proof of ID, and also you community services card if you have one.
We are located at 206 Songer Street, Stoke. Just past the Stoke Vets, in the parking lot near the playground.
The library is a non-profit (charity) community service; we are not a council or government organisation or a business. We are a group of parents working together to benefit our children and community. The library is run by a paid part-time library Coordinator, Claire who is responsible for the day-to-day business. Additional to that, there are many volunteers in different roles involved. Have a look at our committee information.
Yes! Community Service Card holders have a reduced membership rate. This can be found on our membership page
We also offer Parents Centre members 50% off our 12 month memberships, and we have a 3 month membership for $30 for Space Parents
Duty members help at the library in exchange for a reduced membership rate. Usually these shifts are on Monday evenings, Wednesday or Sunday mornings. As a duty member, you are required to do one 1 hour shift per 3 months membership. If you fall behind in your duties, you will be asked to catch up or pay the difference between the duty and non-duty subscription. You can pick a shift that suits you on our online calendar or with Claire at the library.
We run sausage sizzles at Bunnings to raise money for the library - you can use your duties there too.
Usually, you help check-in the toys, by counting the individual pieces of each toy to check for completeness, if reasonable clean and nothing broken. If it’s a quiet session you might be asked to help with cleaning, re-labeling toy boxes or helping with getting new toys into circulation. Children are welcome to come to these duty sessions and help out too
We understand that things to crop up, but would really appreciate every effort to be made to attend the duty session you booked- not turning up for duty is one of the easiest ways to cause stress at the library, especially if it is short notice. You are welcome to send a replacement if you can, i.e. partners or hubbies, grand parents, friends.
If you know in advance, you can email Jana and she will take you off the roster and try to find a replacement for you. Feel free to offer alternative times as often it is easier to swap duties. The roster is usually filling up a couple of months ahead so please don’t leave it too late. If you cannot fulfill your duty requirement, you will be charged the difference of a non-duty membership.
You will need to let us know within 24 hours of borrowing it if anything is not right with the toy. You can either message us on Facebook, Instagram, call or email, stating the toy code and what’s wrong with the toy and we will note it in our system and then sort it out when you come back.
You will be asked to renew any toy with missing pieces or packaging, so it pays to spend some time packing them all up and then put them away before you come to the toy library.
If a toy or its packaging is damaged during your hire, please let us know and stop using the toy if deemed unsafe. On return, our librarian will inspect the damage and set a charge for the damage. Our standard fine is $5 but this can vary, depending on how easily it is to replace and how essential the piece is. The plastic boxes and bags are part of the toy and cost the toy library to replace. There will be a charge made if the box/bag is severely broken while you have the toy. If a piece is missing or damaged, rendering the toy unusable, you may be requested to pay a portion of the replacement cost and have the option of purchasing the toy.
We always welcome the return of pieces, even if they have been missing for a long time! However, once fines are paid they are non-refundable so we encourage you to give it a good go to find any missing pieces in the first place.
On every return, toys are checked on being “reasonably clean”. This means that we expect every member to return their toys in a state that they would like to borrow it, including the packaging. So, if your child is still putting things into their mouths, please give your toys a wipe at the start and end of your loan period! Janola wipes are ideal and handy to have. We also encourage you not to use our toys if your child is sick. However, we believe that most everyday “bugs” that could be picked up by your child, could just as well come from childcare, outings or siblings and are just part of building up an immune system.
If you have a suggestion for a toy, please talk directly with the librarian. Often, we might already have a similar toy, but it is too popular for you to see it on the shelves in which case we might suggest reserving it.
We take pride in providing toys which you may not have seen in stores and select our toys based on our toy buying policy which is looking at quality, play value, need for packaging, transport size etc. We also don’t buy toys with short-lived themes or the latest hypes. However, all suggestions are taken to the committee for discussion and if successful we will put this toy on our wish list. Toy buying usually happens a few times per year after successful funding applications or fundraising activities.
Absolutely! What a great gift to give to a family with young children. You can give a voucher for any type of membership or any amount you would like! Either email us or come down to the toy library when it’s open, and we will arrange a gift voucher. You can pay by internet banking or cash.