Melbourne Community Toy Libraries will have a new home

I am thrilled to share some wonderful news. The City of Melbourne has decided to take on the management of our beloved toy libraries, ensuring their ongoing security into the future.

As a local mum and your representative in Parliament, I have been campaigning alongside the community to save Melbourne Community Toy Libraries which were at risk of closing due to a lack of funding. I have had countless conversations with parents, children, staff, and dedicated volunteers who have all told me how sad they would be to lose this incredible service.

Our toy libraries play a vital role in creating a nurturing and inclusive environment. These services provide a wide range of educational and entertaining toys, making them accessible to all families, plus it means toys are shared and reused, reducing toys ending up in landfill.

The City of Melbourne will be incorporating the toy library into its regular library service from July. All three branches (Carlton, North Melbourne, and Docklands) will continue operating normally until the end of June. 

They will temporarily close to facilitate re-cataloguing and other essential transition tasks. On July 17, the North Melbourne and Carlton branches will reopen their doors to the community. 

Melbourne Community Toy Libraries have been run by volunteers for more than 20 years so this is a big change. The transition to management by the City of Melbourne is an opportunity to make the service bigger and better, and I know that the dedicated staff and volunteers who have been running the service will be working closely with the council to ensure a smooth transition. 

Additionally, the toy library will now be free of charge and included in the usual library membership, removing financial obstacles for families.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to every person who signed our petition and shared your support for Melbourne Community Toy Libraries during the campaign. This is a big win for our community, and we couldn’t have done it without support from residents.

My office is always here to support residents so please reach out if there is anything I can help you with – [email protected] •