Is the Toy Library membership a yearly fee?
Yes, your membership runs out in the same month you joined, the following year. E.g. If you joined in July, your membership will expire at the end of July the following year. It is easy to renew your membership.
How do I renew my membership?
A renewal member application form will be in your member pocket the month of membership expiry. If you have not received an application form, or you have lost it, a member on duty can get one out of the Membership section of the duty folder. Complete and sign the renewal membership form. The form and money (either cash or cheque) can be taken to a duty session. Make sure a member on duty gives you a receipt. Or the application form, along with a cheque can be posted to the Toy Library. Address is: Oakleigh Clayton Community Toy Library, PO Box 2244, Oakleigh, 3166.
Is it compulsory to help out at stock take?
Yes it is compulsory to help at stock take. All members contribute to the running of the Toy Library by helping out during our annual stock take. During the annual stock take each member helps to clean the toys. If you cannot attend the annual stock take, please ring the Toy Library before the stock take weekend to arrange another way you can help.
What does each member do during stock take?
Stock take is held over the first weekend of December, Saturday through to Sunday. It consists of two morning sessions and two afternoon sessions. Each member is expected to help out for three hours at one of these sessions. During the stock take, you will be asked to clean toys and count the pieces that make up a toy.
When is stock take?
The stock take is always the first weekend of December.
Is there a reward for attending stock take?
All members that help out at stock take can take toys home for the summer holidays. These toys are due back the first week of February.
Is it compulsory to help out during a borrowing session?
Yes, it is compulsory to help out during a borrowing session. The Toy Library expects all members to help out at, at-least four borrowing sessions for the year, usually once each school term. To ensure that you do not miss a duty, place your date on a household calendar to prompt you.
What will I be doing when on duty at the Toy Library?
Members will be rostered on at a borrowing session with a member (key person) who is familiar with the policies and procedures. It is important to turn up 10 minutes before the borrowing session and to be prepared to remain until 10 minutes after the session.
How do I know when I am on duty?
A roster will either be posted or emailed to you, depending on what you ticked on your membership form. Rosters a devised and mailed to members at least 2-3 weeks before the next school term. Copies of rosters are also at the Toy Library.
I have not received a duty roster
If you have not received a duty roster please contact the Toy Library on 9564 7200, or the roster person who is looking after your duty day. The web site has a list of committee members, and emails.
How can I swap my duty date?
If a member is unable to perform their duty they must contact someone else on the roster to swap to a better day. This should be done at least one week before the duty session. Also contact the roster person to let them know you have swapped.
How can I change my duty day?
If you need to change the day you help on duty, please contact either the Toy Library, your current roster person, or the Membership co-ordinator. Contact details are on the website.
What is a key person?
A key person is a member in charge at the borrowing session. The key person is responsible for opening and closing the Toy Library on their duty day. This may be a Committee member or a regular member who has been a member for six months. The roster person for your day will contact you if you are nominated for a “key” person position. All duty procedures are documented in the Duty Folder at the Toy Library. Training sessions will be scheduled periodically for key people and other interested members.
I missed my duty, what should I do?
If you have missed a duty, contact the Toy Library or your duty person immediately (Contact details are on the website). Fines are imposed if duties are missed.
What are the fines for missing a duty?
Currently the fine for missing a duty is: Borrowing rights will be suspended until another duty has been performed.
Other person did not turn up for duty
If a member did not turn up for duty, write this in the duty folder. Also email your roster person to let them know. They will be fined.
Is the Toy Library open during the school holidays?
Yes the Toy Library is open during all school holidays except the summer holidays. Remember the Toy Library may not be open on the Tuesday though (only open 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month). The Toy Library is closed December/January
Is the Toy Library open on public holidays?
The Toy Library is not open on public holidays. E.g. Tuesday for Melbourne Cup, Easter Saturday, Anzac Day (if it falls on an opening day)
How do I borrow toys?
When borrowing, select the toys and check that all the pieces are there (contents are listed on the bag/card) before presenting to the table for borrowing. The onus is on the member to make sure the toy is complete and working before borrowing it. The volunteers on duty will place the borrowing card in your membership envelope and read out any safety warnings/recommendations and place a stamp with date of return on the toy. Borrowing toys takes at least 10 minutes and members should come at least 10 minutes before closing time if they wish to borrow (those coming after this time may only return toys).
How many toys can I borrow?
Members may borrow two toys with a white tag (‘A’ctivity, ‘B’aby, ‘Coordination’, ’D’iscrimination, ’E’xpression categories), and two toys with a yellow tag (‘G’ame, ‘M’usic, ‘P’uzzle categories) per child. For a maximum of two weeks.
Do I need to clean the toys before I return them?
Yes, all toys must be returned in a clean condition. Most toys can be washed with normal dishwashing liquid (using toothbrush etc. for corners). Do not soak wooden toys or immerse baby toys in water, a hot damp cloth will do. Construction sets can be soaked and left to drain overnight. Ride-ons must be brought inside overnight and not left in the hot sun. Puzzles should be cleaned with a hot cloth and care taken with cardboard puzzles. With the games wipe the boards as well as cleaning the play pieces.
What happens when I return the toys?
Toys are to be returned at least 10 minutes before closing time. The members on duty will count the toy pieces in and return the cards to the card file. Duty people will give members newsletters and collect any fines. Members are to close bags and return the toys to the correct shelves themselves.
I have lost a piece, what should I do?
If you have lost a piece, inform the duty member. The toy can be re-borrowed for an additional two weeks (green spot toys can only be re-borrowed for one week). This will hopefully give you a chance to locate the piece. If you still cannot find the missing piece a $5.00 fine is due for each missing piece. The duty member will give you a receipt. Keep your receipt, as you will get your money back if you find the piece/s
Are there any fines related to missing pieces?
Yes, each missing piece requires a $5.00 fine. Keep the receipt, as you will get your money back if you find the piece.
I have found a missing piece
Return the missing piece at the borrowing session. If you have kept your receipt, you will get your money back.
I have a broken/damaged piece/toy what should I do?
If a toy or piece has been broken or damaged while in your care please do not try to fix it yourself. The Toy Library has a maintenance co-ordinator which handles all broken and damaged toys. A $5.00 fine is due for all broken or damaged pieces. If the damage is severe, you may be asked to pay an additional fine.
The bag the toy I borrowed is broken, what should I do?
If the bag is damaged, let the duty member know. They will assess the bag and decide if it needs to be replaced.
Are there any fines related to damaged pieces or a damaged toy?
Yes there are fines related to damaged pieces and toys. The immediate fine is $5.00. If the damage is severe, you may be asked to pay an additional fine. The committee will decide if an additional fine is necessary.
I can’t return toys on the due date.
If you can’t return toys on the due date, inform the toy library, so you will not incur a fine. If you are having trouble returning the toy, let a committee member know so we can ensure that it gets back into circulation as soon as possible and you not accrue large fines
Are there any fines related to overdue toys?
Yes, there are fines related to overdue toys. For green spot toys: $2.00 per borrowing session (3 borrowing sessions per week = $6 per week; e.g. If toy is due back on Saturday and is returned on Tuesday = 1 borrowing session and a $2.00 fine)
Non green spot toys: no fine is imposed for the first week and then $2.00 per week.
In certain unforeseen/compassionate circumstances fines may be waived at the committees’ discretion.
What is a ‘green spot’ toy?
These are high demand toys that are borrowed the most frequently. In order to keep the toys circulating, only one green spot toy may be borrowed per child at a time. Green spot toys/puzzles have a green spot on their borrowing card and on the bag card or on the toy itself.
What does a ‘red spot’ mean?
A red spot on the bag card indicates a piece of the toy is missing.
Is there a list of the toys the Toy Library owns?
Yes, we have toy catalogues at the Toy Library. Catalogues are available covering each different toy category (e.g. Activity, Puzzles, Expression, Baby, Coordination, Discrimination, Games, and Music). They contain pictures and descriptions of the toy including recommended age range. If you are seeking ideas or want to know if a certain toy is in, look through the catalogues to get the toy letter/number, and then ask the people on duty to check if it is in.
