Are you a parent who is finding themselves short of space in your home and is starting to become cluttered with toys? Or someone who cannot financially afford to keep up to date with the latest toys for their child’s learning stages.
Play is an essential part of learning for a child’s development. It has so many benefits such as helping build imagination and creativity, giving them confidence, independence, social interaction, and helps promote exercise for your child.
Toy libraries provide children with a wide range of activities, which also helps families who do not have the space in their homes for toys, or if they cannot financially support buying toys on a regular basis. Listed below are the top 10 toy libraries in Auckland.
1. Parnell Fun and Games Toy Library
Services: Loans over 1,500 toys, games, puzzles, and DVDs to families with young children up to the age of six.
Hire services: Bouncy castle $80 per day
Address: Basement of Holy Trinity Cathedral Parnell, Auckland (Free parking)
Contact:
- Email – librarian@funandgamestoylibary.org.nz
- Website – https://www.funandgamestoylibrary.org.nz
Opening Hours: Monday: 9:30am – 11:30am
Friday: 9:30am – 11:30am
Saturday: 9:30am – 11:30am
Membership fees:
- Full membership costs $170 per year with no duties
- Duty membership costs $90 per year (4 duties per year)
- Casual membership costs $100 no duties
- Joining fee costs $20
2. Carlson Toy Library
Services: Has a range of over 1,300 toys, ride ons, infant and toddler toys, dress ups, games, and puzzles to families with young children up to the age of eight.
Hire services: Cake tins $5 and Party hire equipment from $20-$30 (refer to website)
Address: 261 Saint Andrews Road, Three Kings, Auckland 1064
Contact details:
- Telephone number – 09 624 3308
- Email – carlsonlibary@gmail.com
- Website – http://www.carlsontoylibrary.co.nz/
Opening hours: Friday: 9:30am – 12:00pm
Saturday: 9:30am – 12:30pm
Membership fees:
- Fully rostered membership costs $85 and requires 3 duties during the year
- Partly rostered membership costs $130 and requires 1 duty during the year
- Non duty membership costs $160 per year
- Special Needs membership costs $30 and requires no duties
- Grandparent membership costs $30 per year, no duties
3. Ponsonby Toy Library
Services: With membership you can borrow up to six toys from a range of over 1,700 items for three weeks at a time, for families with babies from six months to children up to the age of eight.
Hire services: Party table & Chair hire from $20-$25 (refer to website)
Address: 3 Dedwood Terrace, St Marys Bay Auckland
Opening hours: Tuesday and Friday: 9:30am – 11:45am
Wednesday: 2:30pm – 4:45pm
Saturday: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Contact details:
- Telephone number – 09 302 2339
- Website – www.ponsonbytoylibrary.org
Membership fees:
- Duty membership costs $110 per year and requires 3 duties per year
- Non duty membership cost $215
- Community service card holders cost $85
4. Eastern Bays Toy Library
Services: Provides over 1,200 toys and regularly adds new ones for children from infants to five years old.
Address: Glendowie Community Centre, 83 Crossfield Road, Glendowie, Auckland
Contact details:
- Email – easternbaystl@gmail.com
- Facebook – @EastenBaysToyLibary
Opening hours: Monday and Wednesday 9:00am – 11:00am
Saturday: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Membership fees:
- Duty membership costs $80 and requires 4 duties per year
- Non duty membership costs $160 per year
5. Ellerslie Toy Library
Services: Provides a large selection of toys for children from infants to five years old.
Address: St Peter’s Church, 7 Harrison Rd, Ellersie, Auckland 1060
Contact details:
- Telephone number – 022 187 2304
- Email – ellerslie.toylibrary@gmail.com
Opening hours: Saturday: 9:00am – 11:00am
Wednesday: 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Membership fees:
- Duty membership costs $110 per year and requires four rostered duties
- Non duty membership costs $190 per year
- 4 week trial costs $20
6. Meadowbank Community Toy Library
Services: Provides a wide range of toys for children aged six months to six years old. They have options fortnightly for borrows and birthday parties.
Address: St Chad’s Church, 38 St John’s Road, Meadowbank
Contact details:
- Email – mctlibrarian@gmail.com
- Facebook page – @Meadowbankcommunitytoylibary
Opening hours: Tuesday evening: 7:15pm – 8:15pm
Saturday morning: 9:15am – 11:15am
Membership:
- Duty membership costs $80 and requires four duties a year
- Non duty membership costs $160
- Registration fee costs $25
7. Mt Albert Toy Library
Services: Offers over 1,000 toys for inside and outside for children.
Hires: Toy rental from 50 cents – $5 a toy.
Address: 732 New North Road, Mt Albert, Auckland, New Zealand 1025
Contact details:
- Email – mtalbert.toylibary@gmail.com
- Website – https://mtalberttoylibary.setls.com
- Facebook page – @MtAlbertToyLibary
Opening hours: Tuesday and Wednesday – 9:30am – 11:30am
Memberships:
- $60 per family per annum
- $40 for those with a community card
8. The Grey Lynn Toy Library
Services: Offers over 1,000 toys including role plays, music, puzzles, large ride ons, water play, and sports for babies aged four months old up to children aged eight years old.
Address: St Columba Community Hall, 92 Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Contact details:
- Email – greylynn.toylibary@gmail.com
- Website – https://greylynntoylibary.co.nz
Opening hours: Wednesday: 9:30am – 11:30am
Saturday: 9:30am – 11:30am
Memberships: Pay one subscription fee. Refer to their website for membership and joining costs as it depends on the month that you join.
9. Onehunga Toy Library
Services: Offers a great range of toys for children aged six months – six years old.
Address: 83 Church Street, Onehunga, Auckland
Contact details:
- Email – onehungatoylibary@gmail.com
- Facebook page – @Onehungatoylibary
Opening hours: Wednesday: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Saturday: 9:30am -11:15am
Memberships: Contact Onehunga Toy Library to enquire about the different types and costs for their memberships.
10. Mount Roskill Multi Ethic Toy Library
Services: A community toy library run by volunteers that offers good quality toys for children up to the age of eight years old.
Hire: Party hire toys – fees are detailed on their Facebook page.
Address: 766 Sandringham Rd Ext, Mt Roskill, Auckland, New Zealand
Contact details:
- Email – mtroskill.toylibary@gmail.com
- Website – http://www.migrantactiontrust.org.nz/mt_roskill_toy_libary
- Facebook – @MtRoskillMultiEthnicCommunityToyLibary
- Telephone – number 09 629 3500
Opening hours: Friday: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Saturday: 9:30am – 11:00am (1st & 3rd Saturday of the month)
Membership: Annual membership fee of $15 and $100
