A TOY Library lending service has been re-launched by local family support charity, Purple Elephant.
The low-cost service re-launched this month in partnership with the Frome library. The Purple Elephant Toy Library will be open to all for borrowing each Wednesday afternoon.
Located within the children’s reading area on the ground floor of the Frome library building on Justice Lane, staff and volunteers of both organisations welcome local families to join this newly revamped venture.
“With over 50 ‘Play Sacks’ to select from, suitable for babies, toddlers and youngsters up to approximately age six, the brightly coloured drawstring bags provide a wonderful experience for children who can, along with a parent or carer, make their own choice from the onsite picture catalogue (also viewable online) and then take that home to play with,” explained a spokesperson for the charity.
“The contents of the bags have been selected to support learning and development through play, with the borrowing of up to two play sacks per family at any one time available, from 1pm to 3pm on a Wednesday.
“Ranging from a simple bag packed with nearly 100 building blocks, to texture toys with shapes and colours for very young learners, to Brio train tracks, a marble run, or outdoor circus skills equipment, the Toy Library Play Sacks are a simple but effective way of offering little ones ‘new’ toys every week, changing with their developing characters.
“Arguably even more important, this sharing and re-use system also helps reduce wastage and landfill dumping, saves money on unnecessary purchases and stops the family home becoming cluttered with even bigger mountains of discarded toys.”
Frome and area families who would like to borrow toys simply need to join the Frome library as a member (which is free; a parent or carer will need to bring their ID/address proof to the library and complete a simple form) and then go along on Wednesday afternoons to select a take-home-toy.
A fee of £2 (£1 if in receipt Universal Credit), paid in cash, is chargeable for a fortnightly loan.
Purple Elephant’s organising team said, “We are keen to let people know that the Toy Library, like all our services, is about encouraging families to play together, so there is no deposit needed or any penalty for breakages. Accidents happen, toys wear out – that’s all part of play. We are delighted that Frome Library has joined with us in this exciting venture. “The library in our town is so much more than just a book-lending place. Each year it becomes an increasingly vital part of our community, a hub of activity for even the very young, so we can’t wait to play…more!”
The Frome library, where the play sacks are kept for selection and collection, is located on Justice Lane, near the Market Yard car park. Full details of how to use the Toy Library loans service, its opening hours, as well as pictures of the play sack contents, can be found on the Purple Elephant website www.purpleelephant.org.uk/toy-library
