Toybox Toy Library is a member of the Toy Library Federation of New Zealand. We are a non-profit (charity) organization run by a committee of volunteers and rely on membership fees and grants/donations from our supporters to run and stock the library. The committee meets monthly/bi-monthly, as well as work from their own homes organizing library matters.
We also employ a paid Toy Librarian, Shontelle, who works during our sessions (9.30-11.30am Tuesdays weekly and fortnightly Saturdays) to provide outstanding library service to our community. Most of our volunteers are parents just like you, are toy library members, and want to help make our toy library a great place. We are always in need of new committee members. If you feel passionate about making our library better and are interested in joining the committee, please feel free to speak to our toy librarian or email us at toyboxtoylibrary@gmail.com.
Our toy library is located at 122 Masters Avenue, Hillcrest, Hamilton. To find us: You'll see 122 on the fence, with The Masters House building at the front - If you walk down the driveway our building is located at the end of the driveway (the PowerStation building) where you'll spot our yellow sign right outside. We are right across the road from Hillcrest High School and next door to Hillcrest Chapel.
We are open from 9.30am until 11.30am every Tuesday weekly and on Saturdays fortnightly, throughout the year including during school holidays. Our Library operates from early February until mid-December when we take a summer break. Follow us on Facebook to find out our upcoming session dates. The Library is closed on public holidays.
Yes! You are welcome to bring your children to the Library when you come to check out toys, but you are fully responsible for your children’ supervision while they are at Library.
Toy loans may be renewed once at the end of the fortnight for another two-week period. But this may depend on the popularity of toy or if the item is reserved. Get in touch with us by email or Facebook, our librarian will check and arrange a toy renewal for you if no other issue. Alternatively, you can login the Library website https://hamiltontoybox.mibase.co.nz/members/login.php to do the toy renewal yourself. Note, it can be done only on or before the toys expire. A fine may apply to items overdue by more than a week.
If you lost a piece and not able to find the piece, you will be charged a fine generally around $3~$9 depending on the significance of the piece to the toy. If you damage the toy and the toy is no longer usable, you will be charged a replacement cost, every toy will have a different cost. If you find a missing piece that we have charged you for, we will gladly give you a refund.
Please let our toy librarian know either in person during one of our sessions or by emailing us at toyboxtoylibrary@gmail.com
We have three membership options available:
For the 1hour rostered duty (for our 6month & 12month memberships), it is very casual, so please don't feel a lot of pressure. When you come in for your 1hour duty, we ask you to help with any toys that are returned, by counting the individual pieces that make up the toy to check they're all there and that they toy is in good condition (not broken, missing pieces, and clean) for the librarian to return in the system. If it's a quiet session, you might be asked to help tidy/organise the toy cupboards. When you come in for your 1hour duty, you're welcome to bring your child in with you for them to play with toys while you help, and return/issue toys yourself, but you are fully responsible for your children’s supervision while they are in the Library. You can book in a date that suits with the toy librarian, it can be any of our weekly Tuesday sessions or our fortnightly Saturday sessions.