A toy library is a place where parents or carers can go to borrow a large variety of educational toys, puzzles and games on a regular basis. Toy libraries aim to support families and encourage them to spend time playing with their children. Quality toys are expensive and children quickly become bored with a toy once its play value has been exhausted. By providing new play materials every week or two, parents can save money and significantly contribute towards the development and education of their children.

Toy libraries vary from library to library. They may be located in the local scout hall or within the muncipal library; have 20 families who are members or 250; employ a staff member or rely totally on their members doing roster duty. Toy Libraries in Victoria do have some essential characteristics. These are they:

• provide quality educational items for loan
• are not expensive (usually an annual subscription is charged)
• principally cater for pre-school children
• have a range of items covering all stages of growth and development
• provide an opportunity to meet other caregivers to share concerns, interact with others and make new friends
• help parents and carers learn about the ages and stages of child development
• usually open set days and hours

Toys

• will promote "good" play by aiding in the development, education and imaginative capacity of the child, and form in the child the ability to share and co-operate with other children
• are well designed and constructed
• are durable and safe

It's not only young humans who play as a way to learn, young animals do too. A kitten will chase, pounce on and play-fight a ball of wool or a toy mouse. It is busy learning how to hunt and catch its dinner.

Children have much more to learn and it takes much longer to grow up. So many skills to learn - such as how to walk, talk and make things with your hands. Each one needs lots of time spent playing and practising to perfection.