A $1,000 operating costs grant has helped the Rotorua Toy Library to go live with a web site. The Toy Library operates out of the Rotorua Public Library and has more than 350 toys available to be borrowed by anybody with a current library card.
Brenda Lee, chairman of the Rotorua Toy Library, says the web site allows people to see what toys are in the library and which ones are out on loan. The funding has provided for the site development and continued updating as required.
The library was initially set up in 1982 under the auspices of the Toy Library Foundation but subsequently moved to the association with the library, which Brenda says has been better for the community.
Toys are withdrawn and collected from the library on the same lines as books, with the Rotorua Library collecting a 20 per cent commission to defray costs.
“So we have a very close working relationship with the library staff,” says Brenda. The rental charges for the toys ranges from $1.50 to $3.00 and include anything from puzzles to ride-on bikes, and cater for a range of children up to 10 years of age.
Toys are labelled to go through the library system. The Toy Library was initially located in a corner of the library but moved into a large room when the council refurbished the library. The room contains most of the toys in bags specially made by a group member.
Each bag has a label, with a card and photo, lists all the toy parts, and includes a public library bar code. Each toy and each piece is engraved with a number which is also on a tag with the toy.
Toy Library members maintain any toys returned requiring repairs or replace missing pieces, but some toys can last 10-12 years.
For more information on the
Rotorua Toy Library, contact:
Brenda Lee
(07) 3325731
Charities Commission registration number: CC34562
www.rotoruatoylibrary.org.nz