membership
Frequently asked questions
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Any person over 18 of a family can be a member of the library.
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Year-long or shorter term memberships give you access to thousands of toys appropriate for children 0 – 5 years.
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Becoming part of a growing community that cares about their children and the environment.
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Yes! We need volunteers to staff our lending events (open hours).
Sign up to volunteer at the South Minneapolis branch
Sign Up to volunteer at the Northeast Minneapolis branch.
Sign up to volunteer at the St. Paul branch
We also would love to hear from you if you have a skill that you think the library could benefit from, such as a photographer, woodworker, or social media expert. Talk to a toy librarian to learn more.
Yes! You can purchase a volunteer membership (either new member or renewing family) for $20. You need to volunteer at 4 lending events for that membership year – that’s it!
Yes! Your membership gives you access to all 3 locations. You can exchange and return toys at any location.
We have extra ziplock and zipper bags, which is usually what the toys are kept in, but if you can spare some we would greatly appreciate it. If you eventually find the bag, please bring it back, we will reuse it. We also encourage families to have a regular spot to place all your toy library bags when you arrive home so it’s easy to find them when it’s time to bring them back.
Damage and loss are handled on a case by case situation. If it’s a very popular toy or a toy we only have one of and it’s damaged beyond repair, we will ask that you buy a replacement or pay what it would cost us to buy it. If the toy is damaged beyond repair and it’s a toy we have many of, we may not request a replacement. If a part is damaged that is determined by a toy library to not affect its ability to go back on the shelf, no charge will be required.
This varies. If you lose one Duplo block, most likely this does not affect its return to the shelf. However, if you have lost a Magna tile or a piece to a puzzle, we will assess a fee or ask you to pay to replace it. We also allow members to return a toy with the missing piece and continue to look for the lost piece at home. We ask that you keep us informed on the progress of finding it.
It is the responsibility of the member to clean the toy before returning it. Find our cleaning protocol here.
We recommend a 4 week borrowing period. However we do not have late fees or due dates, so you have flexibility. Come back to exchange toys as often as you like. If you’d like to renew an item, leave it at home and just tell us when you check in the rest of your toys.
At this time we ask that children limit the amount of time playing with the toys at the library and keep the materials inside the bags if applicable. We ask that you help your child put the toys back on the correct shelf if they do not choose to take them home.