A move to a bigger space in Beckenham has given the Gosnells Toy Library room to grow, but the community service is now working to rebuild membership and reach new families.
The toy library officially moved from Thornlie in November 2022 after outgrowing its previous shared premises.
Toy Librarian Lavanya said the old location came with challenges, including having to pack away equipment after every session and paying an hourly rate to use the building.
“The move allowed us to have our own space, open when needed and the committee could access the building when needed, for a fixed yearly fee,” she said.
While the move brought more freedom and space, it also came with a cost.
Lavanya said promotion slowed during the transition as the committee focused on setting up the new location, and membership numbers dropped significantly.
“Our previous committee worked tirelessly to promote our Toy Library when we were based in Thornlie,” she said.
“During the move, this promotion stopped as we focused on setting up our new space and as a result our membership has dropped significantly.”
She said many families followed them to Beckenham, and those who did not were mostly families whose children had grown older rather than being put off by the distance.
The library is now keen to raise awareness in Beckenham and surrounding areas.
The toy library offers families access to a wide range of toys, games and learning resources through affordable memberships.
It offers a range of six-month and annual memberships, with all new memberships including a once-off $10 joining fee.
Members can borrow up to eight toys at a time for three weeks.
Lavanya said borrowing toys instead of buying them helped families save money while also reducing waste.
“Children quickly outgrow toys or lose interest after a short time, so borrowing allows families to regularly rotate toys without the cost of constantly buying new ones,” she said.
Among its newer initiatives are Supported Borrowing Sessions for families with children who may need extra support, including those with suspected or diagnosed developmental delays or disabilities.
The sessions were made possible through funding from Toy Libraries Australia and inspired by a long-standing committee member who works as a special needs education assistant.
“The idea was inspired by one of our long-standing committee members who, through her work as a special needs education assistant, recognised the need for a quieter, more supportive borrowing environment for some families in our community,” Lavanya said.
The sessions offer a smaller, calmer environment with sensory supports such as fidgets, noise-cancelling headphones and visual timers.
Families can also get one-on-one help from the Toy Librarian in choosing toys suited to a child’s interests, developmental stage or sensory needs.
Lavanya said no formal diagnosis was required because many parents noticed developmental challenges before children reached school age or received formal assessments.
“By not requiring a diagnosis, these sessions allow families to access support earlier and without barriers,” she said.
She said feedback from families had been positive, with many appreciating the calmer environment and the chance to borrow toys that support therapy goals at home.
The toy library also offers a party hire service open to everyone, with toys including roller coasters, giant Jenga and Connect 4 available for three-day hire.
Lavanya said the team hoped more families in Beckenham and surrounding suburbs would discover the benefits of borrowing, playing and learning through the toy library.
