Your Toy Library
Welcome to the Attadale Toy Library, a resource for Melville City and surrounding residents. We hope you and your family enjoy this resource. The Toy Library works like a book library, except children borrow toys, games or puzzles. All the toys have been carefully selected to provide entertainment and educational benefits for children aged from babies to 6 years. The Toy Library is run by parent volunteers, with all fees going towards new toys, costs and maintenance. Additional information is available on our website: http://attadaletoylibrary.org.au.
Fees
Annual membership is $80.00 per family, plus a once-only bond of $20.00 for all members. This bond is fully refundable on resignation of membership if members have fulfilled all duties and obligations (see below for details). The annual membership fee is not refundable.
Opening times
Toy Library is open Saturday mornings, 9.00 -10.30am. Please come early to avoid congestion at the end of the session. Please refer to the current roster for closing dates over that term due to long weekends etc.
Toys
What you can borrow and for how long
Five items can be borrowed at any one time. You can borrow them for up to three weeks. The same toy can be renewed for a further three weeks (on or before the date it is due back) by logging into MiBase online or coming to a Saturday morning session. If the due date falls on a day when the toy library is closed (e,g, a public holiday weekend), the toy is due back the next Saturday that the library is open.
Late returns
If for some reason you cannot return the toy by the date due a weekly fine of a $2.00 per toy, per week to a maximum of $10.00 per week will be charged. No fine will be given if your toys are due back on a Saturday that the library is closed.
Missing Pieces
If you find that a toy you have borrowed is missing a piece, please renew the toy for a further borrowing period and try to find it. If you keep it for an extra three weeks and still can’t find the missing piece, you may need to pay for the replacement of the piece. If the toy can no longer be used without the missing piece, you may need to pay for its replacement. The value of the replacement will be determined at the next committee meeting.
Packaging
Packaging is expensive and can be hazardous if care is not taken, so please put bags and boxes in a safe place. A replacement fee will be charged for lost or damaged bags and packaging. We also ask that if you have any packaging the Toy Library could use, please donate this on Saturdays. This can be anything from a plastic box to a doona or pillow case bag. We can use anything sturdy, plastic and transparent with a zip.
Broken Toys
Depending on the damage, and taking into account normal wear and tear, you may have to pay for replacement of that toy. This will be discussed at the next committee meeting, and you will be notified of any cost.
Bicycle and scooters insurance
Attadale Toy Library has insurance through the Toy Libraries Australia (TLA). Bicycles and scooters are covered through this insurance, as long as children wear helmets when riding them. To maintain coverage of our policy, we ask that all members acknowledge (by signing the helmet waiver form) they have access to a helmet and that they will ensure that their child wears it. It is the parent’s responsibility to supervise children with any toys and packaging they borrow from the library. To view our full policy please ask a committee member.
Tips on care of toys
Please return the toys clean and dry. Check the number of pieces against the list on the card or box. Help minimise breakages and lost pieces by returning them to a safe place after play. To prevent losing pieces, we recommend that you don’t take toys away from your home.
Take a few minutes with your child when introducing the toy to ensure they understand how to use it. Try to discourage children from taking unsuitable toys outside.
Toy acquisitions
We purchase toys a few times per year as needed based on suggestions by our members and the management committee. We gratefully accept toy donations if toys are suitable and in very good condition.
How the library operates
Management committee
The toy library is managed by a member volunteer committee (president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, roster officer, membership officer and general committee members). The committee is elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and meets approximately ten times per year. Committee members do not pay a yearly fee.
Members duties
Members are expected to do rosters, attend the AGM, participate at the annual stock take and contribute to the annual fundraising.
Member Duty
|
Frequency per year
|
Roster
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4 (up to 6 as needed)
|
Attend AGM
|
1
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Help with Stock take
|
1
|
Fundraising
|
1
|
Rosters
Roster is COMPULSORY for all members. You are required to do one roster duty once a term. Depending on membership numbers, this requirement may be more or less frequent but not more than twice per term. If you cannot attend your roster session, it is your responsibility to arrange a swap with another member. Once the swap is arranged, please notify the supervisor for that week and the Roster Officer by email (roster@attadaletoylibrary.org.au). Failure to undertake roster duties will incur a $15.00 fine the first time and $25.00 the second time. The roster is emailed to members at the start of each term and is also available on MiBase Online (http://attadale.mibase.com.au)
We prefer if your children stay at home when you are on duty, we however understand that it is not always possible. Please keep in mind that you need to be able to do your duties so that the members can return and borrow toys efficiently.
Annual General Meeting
We hold our Annual General Meeting (AGM), in February each year. Attendance is highly encouraged. The Attadale Toy Library is an incorporated association and thus has a legal obligation to hold a general meeting at least annually where no less than half our members attend. We will not be able to continue running if we cannot get a quorum at the AGM. Please also remember a Committee is elected every AGM, and everyone is encouraged to participate in the smooth running of the Toy Library by being an active member of the Committee for a period of time.
Annual Stocktake
We undertake a formal count, inspection and clean of all toys at our annual stocktake. Assistance with the annual stock take weekend is COMPULSORY. Should any member not attend the stocktake (without prior notice to the committee) a fine of $20 will occur. If you really can’t make it on the day there will be opportunities to assist in other ways (such as taking costumes home to wash). You will be notified of time and dates for these through email.
Fundraising
Every year the toy library selects a fundraising activity to raise funds for new toy acquisitions. All members are expected to contribute to this fundraising effort.
Membership Suspension
Membership can be suspended for up to two terms if a member is unable to perform their duties (including roster, fundraising, stock take) for extenuating circumstances. During this suspension the member is unable to borrow toys. Membership suspension is granted at the discretion of the management committee, only if there is no waiting list to join the toy library. Notice of your intention to suspend your membership is required prior to roster being finalised for the following term.
Resignation
If and when you wish to resign from the Attadale Toy Library, please email your intention to do so to committee@attadaletoylibrary.org.au. Resignations will be accepted at the end of each term (i.e., in order to ensure the smooth running of the toy library, we need all members to fulfill their obligations each term). Please advise your resignation before the roster is finalised for the following term.
Once all obligations have been fulfilled and toys returned, the $20 bond is refundable in cash or by bank transfer. Please note that the annual fee is not refundable, even if resigning part way through the year.