{"id":1783,"date":"2024-11-05T19:14:21","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T19:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/itla.org\/?page_id=1783"},"modified":"2025-07-09T09:17:47","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T09:17:47","slug":"elementor-page-1783","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/itla-toylibraries.org\/home\/elementor-page-1783\/","title":{"rendered":"Toy Libraries"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Toy Libraries<\/span><\/h1><\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
About Toy Libraries <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A toy library provides resources for play, trained staff and dedicated space. \u00a0Play, toys and games are at the centre of activities.<\/p>

A toy library gives members the opportunity for shared play and\/or the loan of toys.<\/p>

A toy library can be operated by individuals, charitable organizations, local, regional or national governments or any other such agency or group. Toy libraries that are run by charities or government institutions mostly offer a free service or there may be a nominal charge. Those run by individuals may charge a fee.<\/p>

Members of toy libraries can be children, parents, grandparents, child-care providers, educators and\/or school children, hospital staff and\/or patients, adults, the elderly or anyone interested in toys, games and play.<\/p>

Toy libraries, as often as possible, serve as a community resource, offering information, guidance and support to members in addition to making playthings available for play or loan. Toy libraries generally serve people without regard to language, national origin, race, age, sex, ability or religion. In some instances, the toy library may have been developed to serve a specific group e.g. children from 1 \u2013 4 years, children in hospitals with serious illnesses, youth or adults with a disability, disadvantaged children etc.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
General Models of Operation <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

  1. There are a number of ways in which toy libraries operate:<\/p>

    1. Play sessions<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Members come to\u00a0play at the toy library premises.<\/li>
    2. Loan service<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Toys are loaned to members from the toy library premises. They
      borrow them for an agreed upon time e.g. 2 weeks or a month.
      Some toy libraries offer both play sessions and a loan service.<\/li>
    3. Mobile service<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Toys are taken to various destinations.\u00a0Mobile toy libraries may offer either\u00a0play sessions,\u00a0borrowing of toys or\u00a0both<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
      Recreation and Education <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

      The two main focuses of a toy library service are generally recreation and education.<\/p>

      \u00a0<\/div>

      Recreation<\/strong>:<\/h4>

      The focus is on the fun and joy of playing. Social interaction is an important benefit. The learning of skills is a secondary benefit. In the case of children or adults that are severely handicapped, appropriate playthings lead to an improved quality of life.<\/p>

      Click on the link for a website that focuses more on the recreational benefits of a toy library<\/em>.
      \u00a0View Site\u2026<\/a><\/p>

      \u00a0Education<\/strong>:<\/span><\/div>

      The focus is on the development of skills and knowledge through the medium of playing with toys and games. The choice of toys is all important. After that, the children choose freely what they want to play with. Playthings at an easier level of difficulty build confidence as weaker skill areas improve. This approach promotes inclusion. Social interaction is also a benefit.<\/p>

      Click on the link for a website that focuses on the educational benefits of a toy library<\/em>.\u00a0
      \u00a0      View Site<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
      The Role of a Toy Librarian <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t