If you have any other questions or cant find your answers on our website please don't hesitate to contact us.
YES CLEANING TOYS ARE VERY IMPORTANT - PLEASE CLEAN TOYS THE DAY BEFORE RETURNING TO THE TOY LIBRARY
USEFUL CLEANING TOOLS
Use a cleaning formula which removes grease, e.g. bicarb soda and vinegar – environmentally friendly and non-toxic. Micro Jiff is also good & cleans off well.
Fresh Wet-ex or similar or soft cloth (old cloth tea towels).
Old toothbrush, nail brush, dish scrubber for large items e.g. outdoor toys, wheels, satay sticks used with cotton wool to make fine cotton-buds (regular ones are too thick).
HOW TO DO THE JOB
If appropriate, wash toy well with hot soapy water using toothbrush to scrub little places. Use satay stick and cotton wool to go around edges and into tiny corners, nooks and crannies. Use grease removing formula if necessary. Rinse well, dry toy WELL. Use cotton bud to dry small areas etc.
DRY WELL SO CONTAINER WON’T STAY WET AND GET SMELLY
If your child has been ill, disinfect toys, but do not soak & DRY WELL
Baby Toys - some can not be put into water, just wipe extremely well with a disinfectant cloth. Rinse other baby toys that can be in detergent or bicarb/vinegar mix.
Dry Well. Wash day before return.
Wooden Toys - clean with toothbrushes, or small nail brush if necessary, DON’T soak wooden toys. Work quickly when cleaning – DRY WELL.
Bath Toys – because they have been in the bath for a fortnight that does not make them clean. They need to be cleaned often as the dirty/soapy bath water is left on them and builds up. Degrease/scrub gently using detergent or bicarb/vinegar mix.
Outdoor –sand pit toys. Clean well with hot soapy water if necessary. Make sure that there is NO SAND OR WATER IN THE TOY – DRY WELL. Get into the nooks and crannies with toothbrushes, satay sticks, etc. Scrub wheels. Clean the day before.
Puzzle/Games - where necessary wipe pieces with a damp cloth that has been dipped into water with a mild cleaning/disinfectant agent.
A net bag from the $2 Shop is ideal for rinsing toys – Do not leave in bag to dry – Dry on a towel.
A CLEANING CHARGE OF $5.00 WILL BE CHARGED AGAINST MEMBERS WHO FAIL TO CLEAN THE TOYS (as per the toy library rules).
We have a wide range of toys, separated into the following categories: Construction Sets (blocks, marble runs, magnetix and lego duplo +) Dress-Up Outfits (astronaut, princess, cowboy +) Games (guess who, shopping list, buckaroo, memory games +) Infant Toys (exersaucers, pikler triangles, walkers, veriety packs +) Musical Instruments (keyboards, shakers, drums +) Outdoor Play (Water play, slides and sports) Puzzles, all ages (upto 60 piece puzzles) Ride-Ons (Bikes, Trikes, cars and Tractors) Role Play (Dolls Houses, Kitchens, Work Benches) Educational Toys (emotions, fine-motor, maths +) Art (stamps, drawing and playdoh equipment) Vehicles (trucks, trains and cars) We also have the following party items available for hire: 1 x Bouncy Castles (includes bouncy castle, tarpaulin, pegs and air machine that plugs into regular socket) (extension cord on request) 1 x Party Pack (includes 12 tables, 12 chairs, table cloths, drink dispensers, plates, cups, cutlery, bubble machine, egg and spoon race) (extras on request)
(one session hires only. e.g. Saturday pick up drop off Tuesday)
Play is important to all children and toys are a major element in helping to play and learn. A toy library welcomes children, their families and caregivers to come and borrow well designed toys, games, puzzles and equipment, which are made available at minimal cost. Toy libraries operate along similar lines to public libraries. Members borrow toys for a fixed time period, for a small fee depending on the toy. Toy libraries cater mainly for pre-school children. Cambridge Toy Library is a member of the Toy Library Federation of NZ, who act as an adviser on all aspects of running a toy library The Concept A place where well designed, safe and educational toys can be borrowed on a regular basis at minimal cost. A place where there is access to a large range of quality toys. A place with the opportunity to interact with other families. A place which provides a chance to use toys that match the stages of a child’s development. Check out the Toy Library Federation’s website for more information at http://www.toylibrary.co.nz
Yes, we have gift cards for memberships. You must come into store to collect the gift card but please contact us via email if you wish to purchase one.
Payment: The Cambridge Toy library now has an eftpos machine but we do not accept credit cards. We also accept cash or bank transfers. When transferring please use your membership number and name as references.
Hire: All toys can be hired for 2 weeks at a time for a low cost between 50 cents and 5 dollars. If you would like to extend your hire this can be done by texting, emailing the librarian or facebook messaging us. You may extend any toy once (A total of 4 weeks hire) before it needs to be returned. If you miss this return date we do have a late fine that comes into place the following session of $1.00 per item. If you know you can not make a session to return toys please get in touch via email or facebook and we will waver the late fee. Does not apply to Bouncy Castle hires.
No, we are open all year except for 4 weeks over Christmas usually starting middle of December to middle of January.
Over the Christmas closure all toys are hired for a 4 week hire period and no late charges applied if returned before February.
Facebook : We are active on Facebook and often run competitions and Promotions so keep an eye out. It is also how we actively communicate so come join us by searching: Cambridge Toy Library.
Under special circumstances, such as birthdays we will put requested toys on hold for you (limit of 3 toys on hold). If the toy is currently in store we will hold it for 1 session (e.g. Saturday to Tuesday) after that it is free for anybody to hire again. If the toy is currently on hire we will put aside for you when it comes back and contact you, it must then be picked up within 1 session of returning or it will become available for anybody to hire. If you cannot make it to pick up please contact us and we will try accommodate to your pick up times.
Unfortunately our system has a fault so we are unable to accept membership forms online at this time. If you wish to sign up please come into our Library to fill out a form and our lovely librarian can give you a tour and explain more about us.