November 2013 Issue 148 - Toy Library Federation NZ

Toy Library Federation news, events and information
November 2013
Issue 148
THE TOY LIBRARY LINK
Play is the Way
www.toylibrary.co.nz
TLFNZ acts as a support mechanism to new and existing not-for-profit
toy libraries; offering information and support on all aspects of running
a toy library, toy selection, toy maintenance and the value of play.
Membership is open to anyone interested in toy libraries.
VISION STATEMENT:
“Let the Children Play.”
MISSION STATEMENT:
TLFNZ actively promotes play as being essential to the
optimal educational, physical, psychological, social and
cultural development of the child.
OBJECTS:
 To assist in the establishment of, and to support and promote the formation of nonprofit charitable toy libraries throughout NZ for the purpose of making available to
families, including families with special needs, toys and educational aids of all kinds.
 To support and encourage the development and maintenance of high standards of
service in all toy libraries
 To investigate and disseminate information on all aspects of the safe use,
manufacture and distribution of toys and educational aids
 To foster and encourage co-operation between toy libraries to better assist them in
furthering their objectives consistent with the objects of TLFNZ
 To establish and conduct seminars and educational opportunities promoting the
objectives of TLFNZ
 To gain and maintain recognition for toy libraries as important resources catering
for the developmental, educational, emotional and cultural needs of families
 To raise and/or allocate money for any educational or charitable purpose within NZ
consistent with the objectives of TLFNZ
 To do all such things as are conducive or incidental to the attaining of all or any of
the above objectives.
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Inside this Issue:
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from the Editor:
As I’m writing this, I’m trying to
embrace new technology and learn
about Google HangOut - the Board
has moved from holding face-to-face
meetings to a combination of meeting
types; as a means to help keep costs
down, and still keep in fairly regular
contact as a whole group.
About TLFNZ
Board of Trustees
Presidents Report
Training Weekend 2014
Why go to a Training Weekend?
Virtual Toy Library Tour
Regional Network
Positions Available
Community Awards- Geraldine,
Pahiatua
21 Years - Putaruru
Levin Toy Library
Kiddylandz Toy LibraryFrom the
Sourcing Volunteers
Ways to Say Thanks
TLFNZ Flags
Brain Building Fun
Toy Library Bags
Feasibility Study
Challenges of the NFP Sector
The Value of Play
Courteous at all Times
Lottery Grants
Toy Boxes
Questions for Members
Quick Notes
More than a Stocktake
Charities Update
Toy Express
Insurance – Bouncy Castles
Training Weekend bits
Warrant of Fitness
Manual – Hazard Management
Calendar Upcoming Events
Housekeeping
Stationery Order Form
Advertising Rates
With changing times, we must all
adapt and this is true for toy
libraries as well. We all need to be
open to embracing change and looking
for efficiencies in what we do.
So while I’m in a state of total
frustration at the moment, I do
realize that with a bit of patience and
considered thinking, I will get my
computer to behave and let me take
part in a Hangout. I hope that you
and your toy libraries will also have
patience and a willingness to work
with others and to try other ways to
help achieve the same goals of
providing a wonderful toy library
service to your community.
The year is rapidly drawing to a close,
and so I wish you all a summer full of
fun and laughter through play.
Christine
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TOY LIBRARY FEDERATION OF NZ
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2013-14
Ester Romp
National President
ph (06) 376 7940
president@toylibray.co.nz
Vanessa Robertson
National Treasurer
ph (03)324-4489
treasurer@toylibrary.co.nz
Diane Pitcaithly
Regional/Toy Boxes
ph (09)575-7376
cpbpjg@xtra.co.nz
Karen Lord
Training Weekend
ph (03) 226 6850
Tara Mallon
Jane Marshall
Irene Mosley
ph 022 184 3233
ph (03) 615 5765
ph (03)489 5715
STAFF
Christine Jelley
National Manager
03 388 4793
0800-148-697
office@toylibrary.co.nz
Heather Lindsay
Toy Express
03 478 1182
0800-148-699
toyexpress@toylibrary.co.nz
Toy Express Hours:
Monday – Thursday
10am-2pm
Office Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
11-3 pm
Friday
12-3pm
Physical Address:
18 Bower Avenue
New Brighton
CHRISTCHURCH 8083
Website:
Facebook:
Group Discussion:
Postal Address:
PO Box 27-146
Shirley
CHRISTCHURCH 8640
www.toylibrary.co.nz
www.facebook.com/pages/NZToyLibraries
www.facebook.com/groups/NZToyLibraries
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President Report
Hello,
Yesterday I dropped my daughter Anna off at the airport. University exams
are over and she is off to her holiday job. Hopefully she will be back for
Christmas. I was reminded how close it was as I popped into a couple of
shops on the way home. The decorations made it quite clear we should be
thinking about what to buy already.
Today when I write this for the Link I’m putting some thought into something to post to her in case she
won’t be with us. How much easier it was when she was small. She and her brother had fun for days with
the banana box that her grandparents had put a gift in. A skipping rope for Gran to pull with and a pillow to
sit in made the box the present of the day one Christmas.
I am so pleased that we have Toy Libraries in New Zealand. They are a wonderful opportunity to try toys
out before you decide to purchase! It can give you a good idea about the durability and lasting appeal of a
toy before you buy it.
Anna borrowed the rebounder so often as a 2 year old that we decided to buy her one for Christmas. A
very good decision as she bounced on that thing safely until she was old enough to use a big trampoline.
I hope that you and your fellow volunteers have found your local libraries full of ideas for gifts, a place to
make friends, and perhaps even a place to play!
Perhaps consider membership to a Toy Library as a gift to a family.
Have a happy and enjoyable summer. Merry Christmas
Ester
If anyone is interested in becoming a Board member
themselves at some stage, please contact one of the
current Board members or the Office for further
information.
The Board next meet in Christchurch on 28 Feb-1 March.
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2014 Training Weekend 27-29 June 2014
Planning is well underway to make next year’s Training Weekend a weekend you WON’T want to miss!
Registration forms will be sent out to toy libraries at the end of January, and will also be put up on the
website for you to download –we hope that you’ve all been applying for funding to send a couple of people
along (or have a TW savings account you can tap into).
When should you plan to arrive and leave?
While the timetable is still to be finalised, registration is currently set to open Friday 27 th at noon
with sessions and toy expo commencing from 1pm.
Sunday morning will see sessions until around noon, followed by tours that expect to be
completed by 2pm.
NEW
The Training Weekend is set to kick off with
all feet running....
One-on-one sessions are being offered, giving libraries
the opportunity to book in and have their queries discussed.
Choose topics from:
 Legal matters
 Warrant of Fitness
 Publicity
 Compliance




Computers
Funding Applications
Annual reports
Future direction
To help ensure we have people available to help with your
queries, we ask that you send your questions in prior to the
weekend.
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ARE YOU COMING????
Apply for
funding NOW
TRAINING WEEKEND
Invercargill
27-29June 2014
We want to see
As many Toy Libraries
as possible
The TRAINING WEEKEND is a great opportunity to:
*
*
*
Inspire
Motivate
Encourage
It is a too good an opportunity to miss!
Come on a training weekend as you will all come away
with:
*
Good information
*
Great ideas
Even if you have been on the committee awhile, you will
still benefit and come away feeling re-invigorated
Support Letter for funding applications are available from TLFNZ Office.
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Why should we go to a Training Weekend?
Shirley Toy Library share how last Training’s Weekend has had flow-on benefits for them:
This letter is to give feedback regarding our Toy Library and all the changes and improvements that we’ve made since
visiting the Training Weekend in Wellington last year. First of all, it was a great event and we’re already looking
forward going to next year’s.
Below are the changes and improvements that we put in place since then at our Toy Library:
 Offered kiwisaver to all employees.
 Using kwikpay to do payroll. See www.kwikpay.net . It’s free if you have 5 employees or less.
 With the agreement of the librarians we pay holiday pay over our Christmas break when the Toy Library
closes for 6 weeks.
 Change from ASB bank to SBS Bank who offered free online banking to charitable organisations. SBS Bank
also offers great services for charitable organisations for free like a community BBQ. It makes my job as
treasurer so much easier to be able to do online payments and transfers. Once I have loaded all the payments
someone else on the committee goes on and authorises them.
 Got an Eftpos machine for our toy library. We hire the terminal from www.totalpos.co.nz and pay a monthly
transaction fee to www.paymark.co.nz. It was a 3 month process as you need a merchant number to be able
to do transactions. Normally you will get this through your bank but since we are with SBS Bank we had to go
through the Westpac Merchant Service to get this number. There is a lot of paperwork to complete but we
got there in the end and already seeing an increase in spending.
 I registered the Toy Library with the Inland Revenue to get Donee status.
 We had a good look at our constitution and made a few changes to suit our current situation.
 After the Insurance broker suggested doing a bit of our own Risk Management, we were lucky enough to get
onboard our committee an experienced Health and Safety Advisor. She has done a full assesment on the Toy
Library and put procedures in place for dealing with Health and Safety issues. Due to our situation being in a
closed school building and not having the added security and services when the school was open we had to
put in fire extinguishers in the Toy Library, we made sure all doors can lock properly and gave each librarian a
personal alarm.
 Our president has put in place to have one-on-one meetings every 3 months with each librarian and then a
team meeting to get and give feedback and make plans for improvements to the Toy Library. I’ve also had a
good look at our current employment contract to make sure that it’s up to date.
 We have several copies of the TLFNZ Operations Manual and find it a fabulous resource and have referred to
it many times. We have been inspired by both this document and the Nuts and Bolts workshop to create a
Locations Manual specific to our own Toy Library to help preserve and keep up to date the wealth of
knowledge our volunteer committee brings to the library that might otherwise be lost when committee
members resign and to assist our new committee members in learning.
 We now subscribe to Tonic Magazine and have been using Exults fundraising
guidelines http://www.exult.co.nz/
 At the fundraising workshop we learned funding sources are often local to your area; there are more than a
few options to apply for; often funders will have application funding cycles so put all info on a wall planner to
be best prepared; keep a fundraising folder to store information and copies of past applications; be aware of
compliance and accountability rules (all of which we have implemented);
 It was also useful to learn when applying for grants it's important to explain the role of Toy Libraries as being
of enduring (long term) community benefit in the locations where they are operating. That there is a social
return on investment
 We have overhauled the presentation of our library, inspired by the Presentation session as well as visits to
the local toy libraries. We have worked on displaying toys more colourfully by getting toys out of bags where
feasible or updating bags and boxes. We have altered the layout of the library to display toys better and
attached hooks to the walls to lift some toys off the ground. We have put more information and pictures to
encourage members to try new toys. We have also created a table with themed toys displayed e.g. fairy tales
or dinosaurs, which changes regularly.
 I created 6 baby development boxes after the session on Development through Play– these boxes have a
selection of toys and development information focusing on a developmental stage and particular skills e.g.
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



cause and effect at 9-12 months. I hope to expand this range to include music for babies and wooden toys.
These have been very useful for first time parents and grandparents.
a toy library starter pack - for every new member that had started from Jan 2013, these have been great sing
up all our resources with our logos on and making their first visit memorable with heaps of info and goodies
in the bag to take home and read.
Mail Chimp (marketing talk) was a blessing I know now and have trained up the marketing person and our
first newsletter online will follow shortly this will be cheaper and quicker than posting hardcopy out, knowing
what Mail Chimp can do we can stay in touch with our members more and have a bright coloured
newsletter in all our members Inbox more frequently than hard copy.
Nuts and Bolt discussion was great to hear what other TL do differently and hear that they have the same
problems as us too which is comforting and you could talk together about the problems and share solutions
ideas
I was so inspired I wanted to help other Toy Libraries within my area and become a TL Network for my region,
so far I haven’t done too much just regular phone calls and attended a few of their monthly meetings, but I
have more meetings booked for this year.
2014 Training Weekend
Library Tours
Don’t let the fact that there are only two toy libraries
operating within Invercargill to deter you from thinking that
you won’t get to see what other toy libraries are up to. (you
may want to maybe consider staying on a few more days and
travel around the area, and possibly calling into some of the other toy libraries within the region?)
It is hoped that, in addition to delegates having the opportunity to visit these libraries (and possibly some of the local
sights may also be included on the tour, details have not yet been finalised) that we will be able to view a series of
Virtual Tours of toy libraries from all around the country. For this to happen we will need YOUR buy in- so get those
video cameras out and into action and send in your own youtube/video clips (or slideshow) to share. And as it was
so successful at last year’s TW, we will again be asking libraries to bring along display boards to show off an aspect of
their library.
Bring out your inner Peter Jackson/Jane
Cameron, and let your moviemaking creativity shine.
WE WANT TO SEE YOUR TOY LIBRARY !!!!
What will you show us?
? a trip around the library shelves
? a look at a promotion in action?
? a look at fundraising ?
? committee meetings?
? the possibilities are endless......
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Regional Networking
Regional Area Contacts:
Northland & Auckland
1. Di Pitcaithly – Board Member
home 09 575-7376 email: cpbpjg@ihug.co.nz
2. VACANCIES FOR AUCKLAND NETWORKERS
Waikato
1. Hamilton – VACANCY
2. Central Waikato – Judith Bennett
Ph 07 883 5630
email: mjbennett@xtra.co.nz
Coromandel – VACANCY
Bay of Plenty
Emma Bragg ph 07 533 6009
email emmaandrory@xtra.co.nz
Nelson- Marlborough- West Coast
Debbie Bowdler- ph 03 528 9214
email bowdler@clear.net.nz
Central Plateau
VACANCY FOR NETWORKER
Gisborne/Hawkes Bay – VACANCY
Canterbury - vacancies
Vanessa Robertson 03 324 4489
vanessa.robertson@transpower.co.nz
Maria Romero 027 645 2361
email mariaromero77@hotmail.com
Waiarapa
Ester Romp ph 06 376 7940
email: arendsromp@xtra.co.nz
South Canterbury
Jane Marshall 03 615 5765
email:janemarshall@windowslive.com
Wellington/Hutt Valley – VACANCIES
Otago – Vacancy
Irene Mosley 03 489 5715
email: results4u@xtra.co.nz
Taranaki/Wanganui – VACANCY
Manawatu/Kapiti Coast
Tara Mallon ph 022 184 3233
Email: rataeire@gmail.com
Central Otago - VACANCY
Southland
Susie Burnett ph 03 225 8917
email: drburnett@xtra.co.nz
Karen Lord ph 03 226 6850
email: linrosa@woosh.co.nz
Teri Black ph 03 2266 096
Email: tj.7.black@hotmail.com
If you are willing to become a contact person
in your area, please let the Office know and
someone will be in touch to let you know what
is involved.
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POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Do you like talking with people?
Sharing ideas?
Believe in toy libraries?
If you answered yes, then why not consider becoming part of our team of
networkers?
Our networkers have 4-6 libraries near them that they keep in contact with - to pass
on information, queries to/from TLFNZ Office and possibly help host meetings.
Contact the Office or Di (cpbpjg@xtra.co.nz) for further information
Believe in toy libraries?
Ready for the Next Challenge?
Feel like stepping up to the next level?
Interested in getting more involved in Governance?
The TLFNZ Board has positions available for people interested in
coming onboard – either at the start of 2014 or later, at our AGM
in June. Maybe you have an interest, and/or experience in Funding,
Finance, Technology (Websites/Facebook.), Marketing, ..
Vanessa, our current Treasurer, has indicated she will not be restanding in June. She welcomes anyone interested in finding out
about her role to approach her now to help ensure a smooth
transition.
If you may be interested, please do contact a Board Member (see
page 4 for contact details) or the Office for more information.
We look forward from hearing from you soon 
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Community Awards
Two toy libraries have recently advised that they have been
successful in receiving recognition in their local community award
events. Maybe in 2014 other toy libraries will be nominated, and/or
nominate their special people and also have success?
In Geraldine, the committee nominated one of their retiring committee
members for a Go Geraldine Community Award in recognition for the time
she has contributed to the toy library (volunteer service individual section).
The Geraldine Toy Library was also nominated for in the Volunteer Service
Group section. Well done.
Pahiatua presented with their award at the Tararua Trustpower Community Awards
The Pahiatua Toy Library has been a much loved
organisation for parents in the Pahiatua area for
over 25 years. Many families have been involved
with the library over the years and it continues to be
an important part of community life. Interestingly,
records show that it opened in Pahiatua in June
1986, with the toys stored in a wardrobe(!) in the
local Plunket rooms. It then progressed to a room in
the Cultural centre, where it remained for a few
more years.
Now with over 450 toys of all types on the database,
the Library is a thriving toy mecca located in a
special building adjoined to the beautiful Anglican
Church, not far from the Main St of Pahiatua. The
shelves are full with everything from scooters to toy
trucks to musical instruments to costumes and
puzzles. The desk is brightly painted in Toy Library
colours, and there are fun and bright decals on the
walls. Signs hang to indicate the different areas, and
there is a storage area out the back too.
Fast forward to 2013 and the Pahiatua Toy Library is
vastly different from the early wardrobe-storage
days.
Open every Thursday and Saturday from 10.30 until
12.30pm, the library services between 40 and 60
families in the area. Many people who used the
library as parents now use it as grandparents so
there is a continuation of support. There are
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currently 6 committee members and eight people
on the roster, including two librarians.
As a tribute to the long-standing success of the
Library, recently the Pahiatua Toy Library came
runner-up at the Trustpower Community Awards for
the Tararua Region, in the Education, Child Youth
and Development section.
Current President Katrina White says "This is a huge
honour and the award is a result of the hard work
put in by all committee members as well as the
members and local organisations who support the
library".
The Trustpower awards are held each year and are
solely for the purpose of celebrating the volunteer
organisations which help make communities better.
To be identified as one of these organisations is very
rewarding for all of the people involved with the
Pahiatua Toy Library. Long may it continue to
be successful!
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Putaruru Toy Library Celebrates 21 years
In 1992 a sub-committee of Putaruru Parents Centre set up
the Putaruru Toy Library.
This year (2013) we turned 21 years old on the 17th May.
Being a normal session day we had special party goodie bags
for children who came in and some yummy food to share –
including ‘owl biscuits’ similar to our logo.
On Tuesday 16th July the St Pats (St Mary’s) hall in Putaruru
came alive with approximately 200 children and adults attending a fun-filled 21st party. Being held in the
school holidays allowed school age children – (past and present members) to join in the fun. We were
overwhelmed at the incredible response.
There were bouncy castles / face painting / balloon creations / donkey rides / raffles / lots of toy library
toys / delicious morning tea / sausage sizzle / popcorn. The only cost to attendees was buying sausages /
candyfloss and raffles. We decided to bear the cost as it was a party but we were also grateful to the many
sponsors who helped us to make this a low cost event for attendees.
The occasion was marked with the cutting of a fabulous celebration cake (this was made by past member
Steph Bennett who was a foundation member as a 1year old!). The cake was quickly devoured by
enthusiastic children.
Our Putaruru Toy Library continues to be open twice a week - Tuesday mornings and Friday afternoons for
2 hours each – the same hours for the 21 years. For the past 8 or so years we have employed a librarian.
We also trialled Wednesday after school, with minimum support. Our subs are $25 per annum. We are
found opposite Bunnings – there is huge array of toys / ride-ons /games / puzzles for indoor and outdoor
play. Members come along and borrow these for a 2 week period then swap and get some more!!!
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Spotlight on a Toy Library – Levin Community Toy Library
Each issue we hope to profile a toy library – many thanks to those who have sent in
information and photos about yourselves to share: an invite is extended to all our
other members to feature in this section. Please contact the Office.
Open for 4 one-hour sessions a week, the Levin Community Toy Library
has been servicing families with children aged from birth to 8 years in
the Horowhenua since 1980.
We can be found in the St Andrews Uniting Parish Church
Hall on Oxford Street, Levin 5510, and are open Tuesday &
Thursday 10:30-11:30am, Wed 11am-12noon and Saturday
10-11am. We have dedicated parking spaces available at the
back of the church for members to use.
Contact us via email:
levincommunitytoylibrary@gmail.com or phone
0272052402. And we’re on Facebook, which we use to
remind & notify members of events, special deals and
snippets about play and toys.
Currently we are a committee of 8 with our paid librarian
Liz and our funding is primarily COGS, Lotteries, Grants,
and fundraising. We have 85 members and 573 Toy.
Members can choose to do duties or non-duty membership
with subs currently Duty: $25 plus 6 duties per year
membership and $15 plus 4 duties per 6 months
membership or Non-duty: $70 per year or $40 6 month.
We use Libratu and find it to be user friendly and efficient
in keeping track of all toys and member borrowing.
Levin Community Toy Libraries highlight for 2013 – it would
be fair to say – was hosting the National Board to Levin,
for the AGM and workshops. It was fabulous to work well
as an excellent team in catering for our 47 toy library guests, and
to showcase our fabulous library.
Our TOP TOYS include Farm animals/ dinosaurs, Kitchen sets/
cooking/baking sets, Duplo and Blocks, Chuggington/Thomas train
set, and Puzzles.
Our major focus for the year ahead is to provide information
about toy libraries and their importance to our community of
children and families. A commitment to the belief that play,
playthings and playful interaction are essential to optimal
educational, physical psychological social and cultural development
and well-being. (as found on ITLF website)
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We do have issues we are addressing to do with members not fullfilling duty obligations. We are talking about creating a letter to
send to inform those members we will be enforcing consequences.
Promotional and Fundraising Initiatives:
In 2012 we took part in the local Salvation Army Xmas Tree
Avenue, and were delighted when our toy library won a $100
Warehouse voucher for receiving the most votes.
During the winter school holidays, we chose to highlight our library
and held a “free play” morning. The church kindly allowed us to
utilize the hall and we set up an assortment of toys for our
preschoolers to play. We had a good attendance, and comments
were that it was a great idea, and question was, would we do it
again. Our local paper The Chronicle came along and we got a great
write-up with photos. We would like to – and in summer-time we
could utilize the fantastic Adventure Park next-door!
And next time we will probably ask for a gold coin in return.
.
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Spotlight on a Toy Library –
Each of our toy libraries operates slightly differently, and while many are incorporated societies or trusts,
there are also many that are set up and operate under other organisations. Thank you to Kiddylandz for
sharing with us how your library is set up to operate.
The Kiddylandz Toy Library has been formed as a community initiative as part of the Hawera Assembly of
God Church. It is situated at 192 - 194 High Street, Hawera 4610, and our contact details are: Phone: (06)
278 8073 / Email: kiddylandztoylibrary@gmail.com and Facebook: Kiddylandz Toy Library - Hawera
The structure of our Toy Library is as follows:
Trustees/Elders
Management Committee
Operations Team
Members
The Trustees/Elders are responsible for overseeing the Toy Library.
The Management Committee, consisting of Treasurer, Chairman and Secretary are responsible for all
strategic and financial decisions concerning the Toy Library, dealing with disputes and expulsion of
members, in consultation with Operations Team. This Committee will report to the Elders of the Hawera
Assembly of God Church. The position of Treasurer and Chairman must be members of the church and will
be appointed by the Elders of the Hawera Assembly of God Church.
The Operations Team will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the Library, providing support to the
various people who have undertaken specific responsibilities to ensure the smooth running of the library.
This team will be required to attend meetings and make decisions that will benefit the toy library and its
members. They should carry out any work delegated to them and play their part in ensuring the team is
working in the best interests of the Toy Library. The Operations team is made up with the following roles:
Chairman,Secretary, Membership Co-ordinator, Repair Person and Toy Purchaser.The Operations Team
roles will be reviewed annually, whether or not exciting team members wish to continue in their role, or to
stand down. Decisions regarding who will be appointed will be determined by the Management
Committee. Reference checks and interviews by the Management Team may be required.
Regional Promotion
Recently something we did for the Taranaki region was to contact Bounty and we made a flyer to put into
1000 bounty packs, these will reach the hands of new mums in hospitals. They only charged $100 to do
put the flyers in their packs. We had to print the flyers, and courier it to them.
This is an avenue which we hope will help promote the Toy Libraries in our region, and maybe something
for other Toy Libraries to think about?
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Sourcing Volunteers
With everyone leading busy lives these days, finding volunteers to help at the toy library can be difficult at
times. Some toy libraries are now tapping into volunteers from outside their membership. Northland Toy
Library share their fabulous volunteers with us hereEmma and James are like angels for us at the Northland Toy
Library!
They are our two Duke of Edinburgh volunteers, a brother
and sister team who fit their work in around study and
Saturday sport. Emma and James belonged to the toy library
when they were toddlers and to prove it here is a photo of
James in our boat. They have been volunteering with us for
two years now and could run the place single-handedly. They
are the help-desk for the computer system, they repair toys,
they carry large toys to waiting cars, they keep babies
amused, they count returned toys, etc, etc.
I would strongly encourage other toy libraries to get in touch with your local secondary school and ask
about it. Just remember to ask for the name, email address and phone number of the Duke of Edinburgh coordinator teacher. Send all the information in an email and then follow up with a phone call (at lunchtime is
best). Good luck!
Ways to say Thanks
Thanks to Exult for posting through Facebook these novel ways of presenting small thank you gestures.
How do you say thanks to special people?
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TLFNZ Flags
Last year TLFNZ was successful in receiving funding for a couple of flags and promotional items for the
Otago region. When opportunity arises, TLFNZ will be applying for funding in other regions for similar
projects to help promote toy libraries. Thank you to Balclutha for sending in this feedback.
The Balclutha Toy Library has borrowed the Toy Library Federation’s Flag for
various events we have held over the last year.
We used this flag at various events
late last year including the local A & P
Show where we held a free “under 5’s” play area. This
was a real hit with families. We handed out brochures
which the Federation supplied and even gained some
new members from this event.
We also used the flag at our local Christmas Market
Day where we held a cake stall and garage sale.
In March 2013 we held a Teddy Bears Picnic in the Park
for National Children’s Day. Having the flag up in the
park made other visitors to the park aware of who we
were. We even had new mums approach us for
information. This sort of advertising has been great for
our small Toy Library.
The flag really made us stand out at these events;
people could see we were the “Toy Library”. It was also
a great thing to be able to hand out brochures and to
display posters.
Having the availability of this flag has really helped our
Toy Library.
Thank you again.
Remember TLFNZ Office has
promotional and publicity phamplets,
stickers, flags, cards and certificates
that can be purchased; along with flags to
hire for special events.
21
Brain Building Fun
Adapted from: http://www.babycenter.com/0_brain-building-fun-6-activities-for-toddlers-and-preschooler
The smallest humans learn best through play, says Gaye Grunlond, educational consultant and author of
Developmentally Appropriate Play: Guiding Young Children to a Higher Level. That doesn't mean you need
to buy expensive or enormous toys, however. Here some fun activities that are also brain-builders –
though your child doesn't ever have to know!
Blocks
Blocks are possibly the world's oldest toy. They help develop experimentation –
the ability to form a hypothesis ("What happens if I put this big block on top of
this little one?"), test it ("It tips over!"), and form a new one ("Big on top of
small goes crash").
Parent tip: Keep things challenging with blocks in a variety in shapes, weights, and colours. (Your toy library
will have different type of block/construction sets that can be borrowed to keep the fun and challenges
going)
Sand and water
A bucket of water, a basin of sand, and a few cups and scoops
can keep your child mesmerized for hours – and all along, he's
learning about volume and texture, liquids and solids. Plus, it's
engaging, so he'll develop persistence as he deals calmly with
the fact that the water he's pouring into his carefully dug hole
keeps disappearing.
Parent tip: Try an open-ended question every now and then to engage your child. ("Those sticks you added
are standing in the sand all by themselves. I wonder why?")
Dress-up
Playing dress-up develops imagination, creative thinking, and even impulse control, which is
vital as your child gets older. "When children put on costumes, they step outside
themselves," Grunlond explains. "This forces them to exhibit better self-regulation."
Parent tip: Encourage your child to try on clothes you've put aside for dress-up during his
next play date and watch his imagination really take off. Check out your toy library’s supply
of dress-up costumes next time you’re in the library.
Pretend cooking
Hand your little one an empty pot and a wooden spoon, and let her "cook."
She knows it's just pretend, but not only is she entertaining herself, she's
developing pre-literacy skills. Like pretending, reading is an abstract
activity, in which shapes on a page "become" something ("C-A-R" becomes
"the thing in the garage").
Parent tip: If your child asks for "real" food, but you're not ready to deal
with a big mess, borrow from the range available from your toy library.
22
Hide-and-seek
This age-old game is probably the most fun way to
develop navigation, mapping, and spatial skills, says HirshPasek. The seeker has to visualize the layout of the
playground (or your house), form a hypothesis about the various places the hider might be, figure out how
to get there, then create a new mental map relative to his new location, and navigate again. (Who knew
hide-and-seek was so complicated?)
Parent tip: For a toddler who doesn't quite grasp the idea of hiding, try hiding an
object. Put a stuffed animal under a pillow as he watches, and then ask him to find
it. He'll be proud and astonished – and learning about location and predictability.
Or check out a range of infant toys from your toy library such as the Pound-a-ball to
see it disappear down a hole and reappear again at the bottom (marble runs also
good toy to use to develop navigation, mapping and spatial skills)
23
Toy Library Bags
Although I have resigned from the Otaki Toy Library I still do
several duties and pick up and deliver toys to the junior classes in one of our local primary schools.
I was at the toy library today to change the school toys and I decided I'd use the new TLFNZ toy library bags
to transport the toys. They are fantastic compared to the drawstring bags we have at the toy library.
They hold a lot of toys and are much easier to carry than the drawstring bags. I have had
difficulty managing those since I dislocated my shoulder and broke my arm a couple of years
ago. The toys become imbalanced in the drawstring bags and they are awkward to carry, whereas the
toys are easily balanced in the new bags and much easier to carry with the handles.
They are just great.
Thanks Jenny for letting us know you think our bags are great – TLFNZ still has
green and purple bags avaialbe for $4 each (plus postage) for anyone
interested in getting some (have also heard they’re proving a hit to use when
visiting your local farmers market)
TLFNZ Feasibility Study – Social Audit
The first stage of our Feasibility Study involved the survey of 3 different groups of people – Toy Library
Committee Members, Toy Library Users and People with young children who do not use toy libraries.
At the time of this newsletter’s print deadline, the surveys have only just closed and a report on the
preliminary results is currently being prepared, and will be presented to the Board at its November
meeting. Results will be shared with toy libraries during 2014.
Thank you to all toy libraries who have encouraged their members and committees to take part in this
survey. Your input is needed, and if you haven’t yet completed a survey, please do so as soon as possible.
As has been mentioned, this study is to try and position ourselves to better serve toy libraries and NZ
families in the years ahead. Stage 2 may see some people contacted to take part in a more indepth
interview or to be part of a focus group.
24
In addition to our feasibility study currently being undertaken, I recently came across a report on the
challenges facing the not-for-profit (NFP) sector here in NZ. I’m sure many of you will be nodding your
heads at its comments, and it is in a way nice to know that we’re not alone and hopefully we will all be able
to work together to try and reduce duplication and become smarter at sharing limited resources….
The Challenges of the NFP Sector
Findings from a report into the Not for Profit Sector by StrategicPay and Grant Thornton
released September 2013.
The NFP Sector is fundamental to NZ’s social landscape. It has considerable resources that impact on the
functioning of society. A study done by Philanthropy NZ in 2011 found that the non-profit sector in NZ is a
significant economic force representing a $9.8billion dollar industry, mobilising volunteer work that
represents an additional $3.3billiion of labour.
Compared with other sectors, the NFP sector has both a more vulnerable income stream and more
complex outputs that can, at times, only be measured over the longer term. Its goals are philanthropic as it
seeks to improve the lives of targeted people and in some cases the common good.
While remuneration is a necessary reward for work, research shows that those working in the NFP sector
are strongly driven by intrinsic rewards. They work to make a difference and use their experience and
knowledge to contribute to a meaningful purpose. This motivation provides rewards in itself as it is an
integral part of what drives their work.
Analysis of the early experience, qualifications, work experience and other relevant experience of CEO’s in
the NFP sector conclude that the majority have insight into the sector because of an early involvement, are
well qualified and bring valuable, relevant & significant experience to this sector. Staff and volunteers are
highly engaged in their work they find the work satisfying and are committed to it. Despite this,
management is seen as a challenge. As people in this sector are strong minded and passionate about what
they do, they like to do things their own way. The nature of volunteering is changing. Traditional
volunteers, representing an older generation who started volunteering when at home raising children, are
decreasing. As society is changing, today’s younger people have different demands and less spare time.
Funding is seen as the biggest challenge, followed closely by governance and then management. The
funding challenge was in essence described as “having to do more with less”. The biggest challenge is
usually securing investment for growth and capacity building. This involves educating the broader public.
NFP’s have lower overhead costs, often too low-they need to invest more and sensibly develop capability
and capacity and keep talent. They tend to employ those who are either at the beginning or end of their
careers.
Governance challenges include a lack of experienced board members; defining, meaning and measuring
the performance of board outcomes especially over the short term; a blurring of governance and
operations; and managing strong minded and passionate people who can, at times, be non-compliant.
The management challenge includes a lack of accountability, managing volunteer’s staff, developing
capability and capacity, educating the broader public, and “there is always more to do and changing times
mean that needs are increasing.”
This sector needs to work much smarter in terms of sharing costs and overhead costs. There also needs to
be more sector coordination. There are 96,000 NFP’s in NZ (not all are registered with Charities) and there
is mass duplication.
25
THE VALUE OF PLAY
For many parents, the term play has a negative meaning. For example we might tell a child, “You’re not getting
anything done - you’re just playing”. Used in this negative sense, play implies idleness or silliness. And play can even
be seen as destructive, as in “playing with someone’s emotions.” Many of us, then, see play as something that
impedes a person’s efforts to achieve a goal. In fact, the more goal-directed an activity becomes, the more we think
of it as work, not play.
Yet play can be viewed more positively as a path to the unexpected, the unplanned, the spontaneous. When we
“play” with something we are exploring it, and we are open to surprise discoveries: “Let me play with this for a
while” means to experiment with new ways of framing a problem. It is play in this exploratory, creative sense that
we want to encourage in learning experiences for children. Since openness to discovery is necessary for constructing
knowledge, at least some degree of playfulness is essential to create the conditions for learning. Even when children
are told or shown exactly how to do something they have to try out the procedure themselves to cement that
knowledge. Play-like situations in which we encourage children to try out an experiment with new ideas, techniques,
and strategies are more likely to lead to lasting knowledge than the direct imitation or rote repetition situations.
Play then is the child’s means of discovery, of communication, and of expression. Loving guidance and adequate
equipment can open to a child a world where she can unfold and learn to understand herself and those with whom
she lives. The environment we provide will say more eloquently than words, “Here is a place to play, to enjoy, to
discover - to learn.”
Safety is a key consideration. Look for wood that does not splinter, wheels that won’t pinch, corners and edges
carefully rounded, openings generous enough not to catch small fingers, yet small enough to prevent anyone’s
“getting stuck”, pieces that are too large to fit completely into a child’s mouth and no small parts that could cause
choking. The plaything’s materials must also ensure that the toys really “work”. Check that the toy is designed to
take the very real beating, which is a reality of play.
Price should be judged primarily in relationship to the play value of the toy and to its durability. Often the higher
initial investment proves more economical because the items bought do not have to be replaced repeatedly. The
durable, well-designed plaything not only outlasts cheaper toys, but also fulfils the criteria for good play equipment.
A good plaything should involve the whole child - body, mind, and spirit, encouraging him to explore and create or
act on what urges him from within. Such a toy will stimulate children to do things for themselves. Playthings that
make the child a spectator, such as a wind up dog that turns somersaults, may entertain for the moment, but has
little or no play value. Those play materials which give the child only a passive role are not tools of play, but objects
of diversion We need to realise that toys are not like clothes that children “grow into”. They need toys they are
ready for otherwise they’ll become bored and /or frustrated and the opportunity for making the most of a new toy
will have been lost. By the same token, we need to ensure that the plaything will give some challenge. Play
equipment should encourage children to explore and create, or offer the opportunity for dramatic play.
In early infancy the normal child is developing very fast in sensory learning, in the use of large and small muscles for
motor control, and in communication which grows into language. Infants need to stretch their arms and legs and
focus their eyes, stimulated by a bright mobile over the cot, or a coloured toy hung just within reach. The glowing
colours will attract them and interest them long before they can recognise the object it represents. Development of
language is a continuous adventure interwoven with the play experiences that crowd an infant’s day. The play
equipment available and the attitude of the caregiver towards the child’s development are crucial.
The toddler learns through his senses. The world about him is all new to the infant, and the toddler is still
experimenting and experiencing freshly and tirelessly, with wonderful curiosity.
Motor coordination is developing rapidly in the infant beginning to crawl and in the toddler beginning to walk. Play
equipment which is easily cleaned, supportive of the urge to stand, to climb, to identify, push and to pull, to stack
26
and knock down, is crucial in this short period of fantastically expanding mind and body. So is the alertness of the
caregiver.
Except when eating and sleeping, the young child is very much on the move, and there should be equipment for
climbing, pushing, pulling, rocking, riding - all involving the big muscles. Toddlers are still unsteady on their feet, so
toys that support and give practice in walking and balance are basic - as we see in any home where the little one is
found pushing a stool around the house. Pushing is more important than pulling because toddlers want to see what
is happening. Wheeled toys are very important items - channelling the toddler’s need for continuous legwork. They
should move easily and smoothly and are safe and solid. They should be just the right size for riding. Even before a
child can walk alone he will push a large trolley everywhere, totally absorbed by the challenge of manoeuvring
between obstacles or of transporting his teddy bear.
Toddlers have a great urge to move piles of items: to gather, dump, carry, refill, stack and knock down. They love to
put things into things, to fit pegs (or their fingers) into holes, to fasten things. All these actions are important for
developing small motor coordination. There should be items in the toddler range for them to challenge and exercise
this small motor development, so integrated with the child’s mental development. There are many manipulative toys
in the market which involve coordination of the small muscles, such as pounding benches, stacking cones, nesting
toys, peg toys, and threading and lacing toys. Blocks are a surprisingly versatile and challenging toy to children. These
unstructured materials that so quickly can become a house, a train, fence or zoo, are vital for play -either solitary or
group. Solitary and parallel play is very typical of the toddler; so we need enough housekeeping and other such
equipment for them to imitate a variety of home experiences
Variety is Important for the older child also. Different play stimulates different sorts of learning, so providing for a
variety of play helps develop a child’s full potential. Variety gives the opportunity to  develop big muscle coordination needed for sports and the such
 develop hand/eye coordination for reading etc
 develop interests in new areas
 encourage problem solving
 learn to co-operate with others
 experiment being /feeling/ behaving in different ways
 practice at being “grown up”
Try to ensure that your Library has items available from each category for your members to borrow from. Sometimes
it can be helpful for caregivers’ understanding of the value of each category of toy by providing signs listing the skills
children typically do and learn with that type of plaything. An example of a sign for the Construction area might be:  Construction Toys
 Building and making models helps with ideas of balance, patterns, symmetry.
 Provide opportunity for creativity
 They learn spatial relations, logic, number concepts and attributes of things.
 They are able to make plans and carry them out; solving problems that may arise.
 Allow for imitation and imaginative play.
“Play is the highest form of
research”
- Albert Einstein
27
28
Being Courteous at all Times
Recently the TLFNZ Office has been contacted by library members in
regards to the way they have been spoken to at their toy library. WE
would like to remind libraries that while it can sometimes be busy and
frustrating, the manner in which you operate reflects on the whole
library, and toy libraries in general. Please try the “take a deep breath”
approach if dealing with a difficult situation, and remember that we all
have our off days, but that it is important to be courteous at all times.
Good customer service is essential for all toy libraries.
Members are the most important part of your toy library. Without them, your library is going to fall apart.
Your members are the people who are supporting you, paying subs/fees so that the library can pay its
librarian wages, rent and all the other expenses..
The best way to show your customers that you appreciate their patronage is to treat them the right way.
Show them that they are appreciated, and they'll keep coming back.
Keep your members in the loop. No one wants to sit and wonder when/if they will be called upon to do a
duty/fundraiser, or whether the toy library is actually going to open today like its supposed to. Make it easy
to get in touch with you, and respond as quickly as possible. (so if sickness or lack of volunteers means there
is no-one to run today’s session, you should still drag yourself or someone down to put a notice up on the
toy library door so people are aware and know who to contact).
You are in business to meet the needs of your customers (ie members). If you have members asking about
services you don't currently offer, but could, consider adding the new services to what you are already
offering. Your members will appreciate that you're willing to go the extra mile for them, and may in return
be more prepared to offer themselves to help out with committee, duties, fundraising...
Ask for feedback. Show your members that their opinion is important to you. How can you improve? What
did they like best about working with your committee/library? Send out a short survey to all of your current
and retiring members, and ask them to complete it and send it back to you. Provide incentive-- maybe a
small discount off their next visit. Once you get the feedback, pay attention to what your members are telling
you, and make improvements as needed.
Apologize. If you've made a mistake, intentionally or not, say you're sorry. Give members an opportunity to
complain, take their complaints seriously, and then make it better. Don't make excuses or try to pass the
blame. Look at mistakes as a chance to learn, fix, and improve for next time. If you handle complaints and
mistakes in a mature, responsible way, your members will appreciate it and keep coming back.
Most importantly, go above and beyond what your members are expecting. Don't settle for satisfied
members; knock their socks off with your amazing library and your stellar customer service. They'll be more
likely to recommend you to their friends and to come back to you the next time they need anything.
29
Lottery Grants
Lottery asks that individual toy libraries don’t make individual applications to Lottery Community, but rather to
submit their application as part of the TLFNZ bulk application each year. (Please note, that libraries are still able to
apply to Lottery Community Facilities Fund if they are wanting assistance with purchasing premises). The 2013
application has now been submitted, with 172 libraries forming part of our application. The outcome of this
application will not be known until the end of April 2014.
Accountability forms for the 2012 grant (received as a toy credit in May 2013) were sent to libraries in October. Due
to suppliers back-ordering items and other delays, some libraries are finding it difficult to return their accountabiltiy
to the TLFNZ Office by the end of November. Therefore, so long as you have ordered toys before the end of
November, the deadline for libraries to submit their accountability has been extended to 31 January 2014. Please
however ensure you endeavour to send your return in as soon as possible.
Some toy libraries have been wondering how to show the recent grant in their financial accounts. An email was sent
in July to help explain how to show the grant in their financial accounts. Basically you need to add under your
Income section and entry “Lottery Grant $800” and then under the expenses you will add $800 to your toy
purchases. (or for those libraries who have not fully spent the grant at the end of their financial year, instead of
showing $800 under your toy purchases, you should show the unspent amount in your Balance Sheet under the
Current Assets section labelled as Toy Express) NB: GST registered libraries will need to be declaring gst on grant
received (and claiming it back through their toy express invoices).
Please contact the TLFNZ Office if you need help.
Toy Boxes
The Board have recently been pondering the future of having toy boxes available for hire by toylibraries.
Given the time involved in checking each box upon return, increased freight costs and reduced demand.
The future viability of this service needs to be considered.
The purpose of the toy boxes was to make available a set of toys for new, small, or indeed any, toy library.
They are a great way to temperarily increase the amount of toys available for hire and to have different
toys in the library for members to choose from.
Each toy box consists of 20-30 toys, each in their own individual bag or container; with the pieces marked
and label of contents. You are able to choose between a pre-school box or a box for 4-8 years and hire is
for a 5 month period – a bond of $100 is paid before you receive the toys, and upon return this bond, less
the rental of $40 is repaid (unless there are missing/broken pieces which will be deducted from your
bond/invoiced appropriately).
Currently there are 8 boxes available for hire, but the demand for these has been declining in recent years.
Over the summer break, Di will be doing a stocktake of the boxes, re-jigging and consolodating some of the
contents and it is intended that some of the boxes will be retired, reducing the number available for hire.
By the end of summer we hope to have a photo catalogue of the toy box contents on our website, along
with a list of toys that are being deleted and offered for sale. There will still be a few boxes available for
hire during 2014, and bookings are still open for these. Please contact us if interested.
toybox@toylibrary.co.nz
WE would like to know what your thoughts on the Toy Box Service are.
30
Toy Boxes
Has your library thought about
borrowing a toy box?
2 types to choose from:
 Preschool
 5-8 years
Contact the Office Today:
Phone: 0800-148-697
email: office@toylibrary.co.nz
Bookings for 2014
now being taken
$100 bond for 5 months hire
Approx 30 toys per toy box
Upon complete & clean return,
$60 refunded ($100 bond less $40 hire
31
cost)
QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
Have you checked the forum out lately? (www.toylibrary.co.nz/forums/ )
Remember to also check out our facebook page www.facebook.com/NZToyLibraries and join our
facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/NZToyLibraries to see what others are doing and asking.
Here is a selection of questions being asked by members – please share your thoughts with others, either through
the forum, facebook, or send them into the Office to share with others in the next issue.
?
Non- Return of Toys:
We have been having problems lately with members not returning toys and were wondering whether anyone
has any guidelines / suggestions in regards to how we can manage these situations - i.e what are our rights.
Do you have any information about this you can send us or a really good policy surrounding the
management of toys not being returned by members that we can talk to?? We have wondered about
bonds, having credit card details etc and may need to seek legal advice but thought we would approach you
first.
 We have had a couple of members who have kept their toys out for a really long time. Usually we
phone/text them with friendly reminders to return the toys. If this fails I will offer to collect and
return the toys for them. If this fails, and the toys get to about six months overdue I will phone and
advise that as they have not been returned for so long that we now consider it theft and will be
reporting it to the police. This is very effective and the toys are usually returned straight away! Often
the toys are just dumped at the door in this case, and the overdue fines remain unpaid, but at least
we get the toys back.
?
DVD’s and CD’s in toy libraries?
 Advice recently received by TLFNZ:
The Copyright Act only lets ‘prescribed libraries’ in the Act to do things that you want to do
without a licence from the copyright owner. Toy Libraries are NOT prescribed (only Crown
libraries, public libraries and educational institutional libraries). Plunket have a DVD library,
but these are for educational purposes and may well be to loan their own DVD’s. Therefore
to run a DVD/CD toy library scheme, you would need to apply for a licence to do so from the
copyright owner of any works you wanted to rent out. Toy Express is contacting its current
suppliers of DVD’s to ensure that they are okay with toy libraries hiring to members.
Position Available
TLFNZ is currently looking for someone to help with
fundng applications.
Please contact the Office for further details if you
may be interested.
32
Quick Notes
Did you know that TradeMe offers
special benefits to registered
charities using Trade Me Auctions
as a way to raise funds?
Not sure where to go for funding?
Check out possible sources on the
Fundraising Institute of NZ website:
www.finz.org.nz/Site/Industry_Links/tru
sts.aspx
www.trademe.co.nz/help/725/chari
ties-fundraising
If you employ a librarian, you may want to look
at using Thank You Payroll. A free service for
community groups.
Have you filed your Annual Return?
Ìf you are registered with Charities, then you
MUST file an annual return within 6 months of
the end of your financial year. You can do this
online :
www.register.charities.govt.nz/Account/LogOn
Have your financial accounts with you and
make sure you complete all sections.
your own regular updates.
Keep your contact details with them up to
date so they can send reminders to you.
33
More than a Stocktake
What is a stocktake?
It is the checking of all items owned are present and accounted for.
How to do it simply ….but waste an opportunity)
Set a return date to ensure everything is in the library. Print out an up-to-date list of toy stock.
On the day, mark off all the toys against the current list. If there are any unaccounted for they may have
been:
? Passed onto your repairs person,
?
recorded as being borrowed but not yet returned,
?
borrowed without being recorded or returned,
?
stolen.
Hopefully you will be able to track the toys down, but if not, you will have to write them off and improve
your issue procedures for next year.
Who and time? Anyone can do this stocktake which will take a few hours depending on number of toys.
How to do it really well (….and make the most of the opportunity!)
A stocktake provides a great opportunity to:
 Check inside each toy bag/container to make sure that all pieces are there, that they are the correct
ones, clean and that the toy is still safe for play
 Check the packaging and labels; and that it has safety labels where required (small pieces/under
3/plastic bag warning etc)
 Make decisions about whether to withdraw certain items to sell or to keep for spare parts, or
combine with other toys
 Draw up a purchasing plan for the year ahead, as the people responsible for buying can view the
collection as a whole
 Display the collection in the most user friendly way
 Clean the shelves
 Carry out repairs if required
Why are these activities important?
If your toy stock is not of a reasonably high standard – ie good quality, safe and well maintained toys;
neatly packaged, clearly labelled and clean – then
 A child may be injured and/or
 Membership may begin to fall.
Display is critical, because if your toys are appealing they will sell your toy library.
Issues to Consider
 The actual stocktake – checking that al lt he toys are there should be done by every toy library
regularly/every year, as there is no system that can guarantee that toys cannot be taken from the
toy library without being recorded
 Checking pieces and packaging/labels – if your system for checking returns in a toy library is
efficient then this shouldn’t take long during a stocktake.
 Withdraw or Combine Toys? – you should consider this every year to make sure that your loan
collection is of a high standard. If not done, items which are perfect but never borrowed may sit
there for another year (maybe they just need to be displayed more prominently?) Some items
34
combine with others to make a much better item to be borrowed for maximising play value. It is
hare to make these decisions without seeing the collection as a whole.
 Purchase Plan – the people responsible for buying should familiarise themselves with the collection
and use this opportunity to identify gaps.
 User friendly display – stocktake is an opportunity to make sure that the best possible use is being
made of your venue. Can a parent with a small bably easily find baby toys? Are toys with small
pieces out of reach of young children?
 Cleaning the library – stocktake may be a good time to clean the shelves, while all toys from one
section are being taken off the shelves to be checked.
How to do it?
 The stocktake and return date for all items should be promoted well, and not as a dreaded task, but
as an opportunity.
 A roster could be put up in the library and the committee will probably all need to be involved in
some way.
 One way of doing it is to have one member calling out the number of the toy as they take it off the
shelf, while another checks it off the toy list. It is then passed onto the work desk where
librarian/committee check the pieces are safe (and the correct pieces) and assessed. Depending on
the assessment, it then goes across to someone for repackaging/labelling/cleaning/further
assessment(combining/withdrawal/...) (NB, sometimes you may need to just identify whatever
needs doing and so it when there is more time – I used to take relabeling toys home and do at
night)
 Once full check has been done and areas of attention attended to, it can be put back onto a clean
shelf (a good job for a member rather than the librarian/committee)
 Hints: rubber bands help keep things like train tracks in neat piles. Inner bags such as glad snaplock
(or even money change bags) for small pieces within the toy, gladwrap/pantyhose around puzzles
to keep pieces in place...
 Hint: make sure you have a supply of cleaning materials at hand for the day – clothes,
toothbrushes, water tubs, ...)
 Some libraries have moved towards rolling stocktakes rather than attempt everything at the same
time (eg in winter(June) do the big toys, in Feb do the puzzle & games....)
How does your toy library do
its stocktake?
Would be great to hear of other
ways to help make this more
efficient.
35
Important information for registered charities
Hon Craig Foss, Minister of Commerce, and Hon Jo
Goodhew, Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector,
issued a news release outlining some changes to registered
charities' financial reporting.
All registered charities must file an Annual Return with Charities Services, and attach a copy of
their financial statements. This won't change.
However, there will be changes that mean charities with large expenditures will have to have their
financial statements reviewed or audited. Charities with lower levels of expenditure can - if they
choose - decide to have their financial statements reviewed or audited, or do neither, and submit
unreviewed, unaudited accounts. From 2016, Charities Services will monitor the financial
information lodged by charities with their Annual Returns.
Financial statements submitted with charities' Annual Returns are published on the Charities
Register, and are available for the public to view.
What will change?
For charities that are not already required by their rules document to get their financial
statements audited or reviewed:
Charities with annual expenditure



of $1 million or more - financial statements must be audited by a qualified accountant
between $500,000 and $1 million - financial statements must be reviewed by a qualified accountant
less than $500,000 - can choose to have their financial statements reviewed or audited, or do neither
When will the changes take effect?
It is expected the changes will take effect for charities’ financial years starting on or after 1 April
2015, but charities who don’t currently have a requirement to get their accounts audited or
reviewed can opt to have their accounts audited or reviewed if they wish.
What is an audit, and what is a review?
The External Reporting Board (XRB), the body that sets accounting standards for New Zealand
entities, has issued a set of auditing standards and a set of review standards. An "audit" and a
"review" both examine financial statements to be sure they present a fair and accurate
representation of the organisation's income and expenditure, and provide transparency. Both are
governed by sets of standards, and both should enable donors and supporters of charities to feel
assurance that the charity is reporting appropriately on how it is using its money.
As your toy library’s expenditure is likely to be less than
$500,000, your committee might want to discuss the pro’s
and con’s of having accounts audited/reviewed and, if
need be, review and alter your Constitution.
36
DO YOU NEED A STORAGE SOLUTION?
TRY DRAWSTRING BAGS
Great bags to use for storing books, toys, dress-ups,
puzzles and games for children of all ages.
Please contact Debbie our bag co-ordinator for any enquiries
bags@shirleytoylibrary.co.nz
Special Promotion until 14th December:
Order bags from us and receive
TWO free bags (large and extra large)
This will save you $7 off the total bill!
Order over $150 in the total price and receive
FOUR free bags (small, medium, large and
extra large)
This will save you $10.40 off the total bill!
Please visit our website:
www.shirleytoylibrary.co.nz
And download our order form now!
DETAILS OF WHAT WE SUPPLY
Prices:
- $1.20Extra small
Ideal for storing:
Measurements:
- small pieces for family play toys
(200 x 300mm WHITE)
- $1.50 Small
- bath toys and puzzles
(300 x 450mm GREEN)
- $1.90 Medium
- Board games and crafts
(375 x 500mm RED)
- $2.50 Large
- Farm set, dolls house etc…
(450 x 750mm YELLOW)
- $4.50 Extra Large
- toy trucks and dolls houses
(660 x 1000mm BLUE)
- $5.00 Dress up
- fancy dress costumes
(660
- $1.60 School Bag
- Library books
(375 X 500mm + any tape colour)
37
x 1000mm + hanger)
Toy Express – the toy part of TLFNZ
Heather Lindsay – Toy Buyer –
Toy Express email:
toyexpress@toylibrary.co.nz
Phone: 0800 148 699
or if in Dunedin 03 478 1182
The last several months has been a very exciting time with eligible Toy Libraries
using their Lottery Grant to buy some new toys. It has also meant a very busy
time for me, with some frustrations for both myself and toy libraries with some
suppliers no longer carrying certain toys, or needing to place items on backorder.
When I began in this position I thought I had a good idea of the ranges of toys were available, but it was
only the tip of the iceberg. It has been a big learning curve but one which I am enjoying immensely.
Please be aware that due to the sheer volume of orders and requests, there may be some delays. I do
appreciate your patience and understanding, and thank you for this. If you are at all concerned about a
delay or need to query a request, please do contact me so I can answer your questions.
For those libraries who have received their new toys I hope you and your members are enjoying them, and
for those yet to order please remember we need to have your orders before 30 November 2013. Thank
you to the NZ Lotteries for the funding.
Remember Toy Express is wholly owned and operated by the Toy Library Federation of NZ. It is not a
separate company. It is the toy buying branch of the Federation and it aims to help establishing and
existing toy libraries to purchase suitable toy library toys, whenever possible at wholesale rates, or at
discounted retail prices. As well as working as a toy broker, Toy Express also acts in an advisory role helping
toy libraries to make suitable choices for their toy library collections.
Toy Express can help your toy library in the following ways:
1. Supportive point of contact for members of the TLFNZ regarding toy and toy related issues. You
can contact me at toyexpress@toylibrary.co.nz , or phone 0800 148699 or (03) 4781182. I am in
the office Monday to Thursday 10am-2pm. If you call outside these hours, please leave a message
and I will return your call as soon as possible.
2. Regular Information on new products, toy specials and general toy news is sent out via our regular
email flyers and through this Link newsletter. If you are a new toy buyer and you are not receiving
the Toy Express email flyers, please let me know so I can add you to the list.
3. Online Toy Catalogue & Ordering of toys is available on the TLFNZ website www.toylibrary.co.nz .
It is only accessible by registered members of the TLFNZ and you will need a username and
password for this. Please contact me if you need help with this. The toy catalogue contains
information on the brands available, the products and prices although some prices may not be up
to date as we are in the process of changing to a new system. (we apologise for the delay in getting
the new system up and running – hopefully it will be up and running early next year). If there are
items you are interested in purchasing, please contact me and I can confirm prices for you. Also we
have access to a large number of items not yet included on the website so if you are after
38
something in particular, please ask. To order, you can simply email your order through to me or use
the online ordering form.
4. A Replacement Parts service is also available. I have a small number of replacement parts in stock
for some popular toys and I can source a reasonable number of spare parts. So before deleting that
favourite toy because a part is broken or lost, just check first to see if a replacement part can be
sourced.
5. Quotes For Grants Toy Express can provide you with quotes for your grant applications. You can
provide me with a list of toys that you want quoted on, or if you’re not sure what to buy I can
suggest suitable toys and prepare a quote for you accordingly. Importantly, with a quote from Toy
Express you may not need to provide a second quote with your application as I can provide you
with a personalised letter explaining that Toy Express works as a broker to find the best prices
available.
It is important to remember that Toy Express is solely here to help you! It is not for profit and I urge you to
use and support Toy Express to ensure that this wonderful service continues.
Spare Parts
Missing
Pieces?
Toy Express may have that
piece your members just can’t
seem to find.
Contact Heather today to see if she can
source that elusive part and make your
toys complete once more.
39
Insurance Matters – Bouncy Castles
Our insurance broker has asked me to remind toy libraries with bouncy castles of the need
to ensure you have a contract signed by people hiring your bouncy castle regarding proper
use and care. (if your toy library has insurance through the TLFNZ scheme, you need to
notify the office if you have a bouncy castle and note that bouncy castles are only covered for
fire & burglary only)
In response to a query from a toy library recently, he advises that “The Toy Library’s Public Liability cover
won’t cover the castle being transported on the hiree’s vehicle trailor as PL covers damage caused to a
third parties property but the Hiree’s third party liability cover under their Motor Vehicle would cover it if
they were at fault.”
This article from the NZ Hearld by Kieran Campbell on June 21, 2013 may be of interest, and highlight why it is
important that you have a signed hire contract:
An owner of a children's entertainment company says she is "extremely
remorseful'' for the injury caused to three children when a bouncy slide
blew away.
Kerikeri company Trailblazers Northland has indicated it will plead guilty
to a charge laid against it after the bouncy slide incident at Whangarei's
Heritage Park on November 17.
Melinda Harbour, who owns the company with her partner Neil
Sutherland, said they intended to accept the allegation that the slide was
not properly secured.
The company's lawyer told Whangarei District Court this week that they intended to plead guilty to the charge of
failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the inflatable slide was adequately secured and did not cause any harm.
"Trailblazers has ben operating for 20 years in Northland without incident,'' Ms Harbour said."We are extremely
remorseful and we implemented immediate procedural changes to ensure that this never happens again.''
The company is set to reappear on the charge, laid by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, on July
1.
The incident happened during a gathering of ASB Bank staff at the Whangarei park for an annual children's Christmas
party.Northland St John Ambulance boss Tony Devanney said a wind gust was believed to have picked up the slide
and dragged it about 20 metres. Three children were on it and the equipment was believed to have hit another child as
it was blown along.
Four children were taken to hospital, Mr Devanney said.It was understood twin 6-year-old boys suffered broken arms
and an 8-year-old girl was concussed.ASB Bank general manager of public and external relations Christian May said
at the time a strong gust appeared to have pulled the slide's tethers from the ground and tipped it over .
NB: Christine will be checking the Office emails during the summer break, so if you have an
insurance query when the office is closed, please send an email to office@toylibrary.co.nz
Alternatively, our website www.toylibrary.co.nz/insurance has a claims form on it for you to use.
40
2014 Training Weekend
“Consistency is Key”
Invercargill - 27-29 June 2014
Our National Training weekend is to be held on 27-29 June 2014 at the Ascot Park
Hotel, Invercargill.
Cost
The cost to attend the Training Weekend next year will be $275-00 per delegate – this covers all sessions
but NOT accommodation. You are responsible for your own accommodation bookings which can be made
directly with Ascot Park. Rooms are reasonably priced see more detail below.
Pre-Registration
We are offering Toy Libraries the opportunity to pre-register for this weekend. There will be no
requirement at this stage for you to advise who exactly will be attending, or what workshops they will be
doing; this is simply an opportunity to secure your place at this weekend (and to help us with planning with
an idea of numbers attending). Pre-registration forms are available from our website, please complete the
pre-enrolment form, and send with the correct money to TLFNZ Training Weekend, PO Box 27 146,
Christchurch 8640. A receipt will be sent for your records.
ACCOMMODATION – Ascot Park Hotel
Please note it is your responsibility to book your accommodation. As this is an additional
expense to the registration fee, remember to include when applying for funds. ((We have made this
decision in response to feedback in the past that people were not happy with accommodation. By booking
your own, you can book to meet your budget and your preferred style of accommodation.)
The Ascot Park Hotel have a good range of accommodation onsite: Motel units @ $99pn, Hotel rooms @
$145pn, One room apartments @ $155pn. These are all single/twin share rates with an additional charge
of $25.50 per extra person in a room. If you have more than 2 attending book early as there will be limited
rollaway beds. To book accomodation at the Ascot Park Hotel, contact Cheryl Melrose directly - Phone 03
219 9076 or email: Cheryl@ascot.ilt.co.nz and state it is Toy Library Training Weekend.
TOY EXPO
We have a dedicated space for Toy Expo venue. Toy Expo will be open from early Friday afternoon until
the end of Saturday lunchtime.
TRAVEL
To get the most from our weekend please try and arrange to arrive by early afternoon Friday, with
departure Sunday afternoon. Currently the proposed timetable shows opportunity for One-on-one
sessions and Toy Expo commencing from 1pm Friday, workshops at 4pm. Sunday currently is timetabled to
end at midday (or 2pm if wishing to do a tour of Invercargill toy libraries).
If you are applying for funding to attend this event, remember that you cannot have bought and paid for
your travel prior to receiving the grant.
For any other queries you may have, please contact the TLFNZ Office – phone 0800 148 697 or email:
office@toylibrary.co.nz
41
Warrant of Fitness
This checklist is designed to help committees discuss practices within their library and
maybe identify areas that need action. With each issue of the Link, section will be put in for
you to take to your committee meeting for discussion (and action if necessary)
Your Operations Manual, Toy Express, The Office, Board and Regional Networkers are all
potential sources of assistance if you find your library is in need of help in these areas.
NB: upon payment of subs this year, you were sent a CD with the Manual and WOF on it for you to use and
refer to. A copy is also on our website www.toylibrary.co.nz/toy-library-resources/wof-checklist
GUIDING RULES (Constitution/Trust Deed)
Yes
No
1.
Do you know where the rules of your organisation are?
ie. constitution/trust deed.
2. Are you using the correct legal name – as per your rules?
3. Do you understand what your constitution/trust deed is, and what its purpose is?
4. Have the guiding rules been reviewed?
If changes have been made, have these changes been lodged with Societies (and
Charities)?
5. Are your guiding rules still current for your organisation?
6. Have you kept your members informed of any changes to the ‘rules’?
7. Does every member of your committee have a set of your guiding rules?
8. Is there a set available at your library for members if they ask to see it?
Comments:
TOY LIBRARY FEDERATION
Yes
1. Do you know what the TLFNZ does for members?
2. Are you aware there is an Operations Manual available for toy libraries? Do you know
where your DVD or hard copy is?
3. If Yes to Question 2, is it accessible to all committee members?
Comments:
42
No
From the Manual….5.1.3 Hazard Management
1. Identify Hazards
This is the basic information-gathering stage where the employer identifies all the potential hazards
in the workplace, both obvious and not so obvious. Get your employees/volunteers involved. Through
their day-to-day work, they’ll spot hazards you won’t.
In a Toy Library situation potential hazards might include: shelving that is not braced to a wall or
ceiling, toys that might fall off shelves, lack of a step ladder to reach top shelves, toys left lying on
the floor, children using ride-ons in the Library, broken toys, plastic bags etc.
2. Rate Their Significance
Measuring is always an important step towards managing, and rating hazards will show you which are
the priorities that need to be dealt with first.
In rating hazards, the issues that need to be considered include:
 Past experience – has this hazard already caused injuries?
 Have there been any near misses?
 How likely is injury?
 How serious would the injury be?
 The practicality of “putting it right” e.g. hazards with a good cost/benefit ratio that can
be fixed quickly and easily should be high up the list.
3. Take Action; - What you can do:
ELIMINATE
 Replace – e.g. broken toys with new ones
 Remove – e.g. instruct your volunteers/librarian/committee to ensure that toys aren’t left
lying around
 Improve or add – e.g. a step ladder for reaching top shelves, a timber lip to the front of
shelves to keep toys in place
 Redesign – e.g. bracing for shelving for maximum effect.
ISOLATE
 Restrict use of ride-ons to a controlled area of the library
 Place broken toys in a store room until fixed or replaced
MINIMISE
If eliminating or isolating hazards isn’t possible, you may at least be able to reduce the likelihood
of harm. For example, you could:


Place signs warning of a flooded access way in heavy rain
Remind parents that plastic bags aren’t toys for their children to use, but packaging for
the toys.
As the elected representatives of the Toy Library, the committee may be deemed to be “people in control of a
workplace” acting in the interests of the employer (the Toy Library) where a paid Librarian is employed. Every Toy
Library should have a procedure in place to ensure that their toys are well maintained and safe for their members’
children to use.
43
Calendar Upcoming Events:
Remember
to keep an eye on
funding deadlines
within your own
area. Check for
possible sources
from Fundview
(which is often
available free
through local
Council websites,
or public libraries)
2013:
Nov 29
2012 Lottery Accountability close (extended to
31 Jan for those libraries with toys on backorder)
Dec
7
Pre-registration for 2014 TW
18
Office and Toy Express Close
2014:
Jan 20
Feb
1
Feb 28
Mar 2
May 1
May 16
Office and Toy Express Re-open
Articles for Link need to be in
TLFNZ Board Meeting
Childrens Day
Lottery Grant Notification
Training Weekend Registrations Close
(late-fee applies after this date)
May 25-31 Toy Library Awareness Week
May 28
World Play Day
June 27-29 Training Weekend, Invercargill
 Share your news with the rest of us. Send your photos and
articles into the Office for inclusion.
 Volunteer your Library as a venue for a Regional.

Consider becoming a Board Member or Regional Networker
 Check the website, forum, and facebook regularly.
 Use facebook and the forum area on our website to ask
questions, advertise your fundraisers and buy/sell toys or
parts.
 Keep the Office informed of any changes of contact details
44
Housekeeping
Operations Manual
Remember to often refer to it for
help or ideas. Limited supplies of
hardcopies are available from the
Office. An updated CD was sent to
libraries upon payment of subs this
year. Download it onto your toy
library computer for reference.
Annual Return
If your library has registered with the
Charities Commission then you need to send
in your Annual Return within 6 months of
your balance date. This return includes your
financial report, along with any changes in
Officers. If you have change of Officers
during the year, you should also file the
changes when they occur.
Insurance:
Funding Letters of Support:
180 Toy Libraries currently take part
in the Insurance Scheme offered
through the Federation.
We are pleased we could help many
toy libraries save money and make
insurance cover simple to arrange.
Toy Libraries can join the scheme at
any time. Please contact the office if
you have any queries.
Insurance cover runs from 1 August
2013 – 31 July 2014.
Remember to get your Funding Officer to
check Fundview (free access through your
local library databases) for possible funding
sources and closing dates in your area.
Publicity Resources:
Toy Boxes:
We have Publicity Kits, Banners,
Flags, and High Visibility Vests
available from the Office for you to
hire for your promotional events.
For more details see the Resources
page on our Website or contact the
Office.
Most of the main funding providers have
their own websites, so bookmark these and
check them for close-off dates.
Contact the Office if you would like a
letter of support for your funding
applications.
Toy Boxes currently available for hire. A
great way for small libraries to increase
their toy stock. And a Great way to have a
change of toys to offer to your members!
More details check out our website,
www.toylibrary.co.nz or contact the Office
ph 0800148697.
45
Toy Library Federation - Stationery Order Form
Send to:
prices correct
November -13
Toy Library Name:_______________________________
Contact Person:_________________________________
Street
Address:_________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Telephone: ____________________________________
Quantity
Family Borrowing Cards (Packet 50)
Unit Price
Total Price
$
7.50
$
-
Family Membership Cards (Packet 50)
$
7.50
$
-
Toy Issuing Cards (Packet 100)
$
10.50
$
-
Toy Master Record Cards (Packet 100)
$
10.00
$
-
Bugs Are Mean Stickers (20 stickers)
$
4.00
$
-
Please Clean Me Stickers (50 stickers)
$
5.50
$
-
Plastic Bag Warning Labels (20 stickers)
$
4.50
$
-
Toy Safety Warning Labels - under 3years (60)
$
6.50
$
-
Let the Children Play Stickers (20 stickers)
$
9.00
$
-
Please circle - Pink, Green, Blue or Yellow
A5 unlined Pads (with Play is the Way on them)
4 for $7.50
Carry Bags (purple or green, please state)
$
Pens "Play is the Way - www.toylibrary.co.nz"
4.00
10 for $12
$
$
-
$
-
Certificates
$
3.00
$
-
Greeting Cards (packs of 10)
$
15.00
$
-
Toy Library Pamphlet? (10)
$
12.00
$
-
Colour Posters - A3
3 for $5
$
-
10 for $8.50
$
-
Dad Bumper Stickers (for the car or wheely bin!)
Become a Toy Library Bumper Sticker
10 for $8.50
$
Publicity DVD – now reduced in price
$ 10.00
$
Extra Newsletters - four editions for 1 year
$ 24.00
$
-
$
-
Open Flag (no poles or base)
$
189.00
Play is the Way Flag (no poles or base)
$300.00
CD - Set Up & Operations manual
$
Set Up & Operations Manual 2010 v6 hard copy
10.00
$ 15.00
$
$
-
$
-
Postage is an additional cost, and will depend on size of order.
Place your order by phone 0800-148-697 or email office@toylibrary.co.nz
46
TLFNZ LINK NEWSLETTER
ADVERTISING RATES
(excluding GST)
B&W
Colour
Size:
Full Page
$90
Half Page
50
Quarter Page
30
Flyer Insert (supplied by advertiser)
(current distribution = 240 copies NZ wide)
$100
$200
120
-
Discount for 3 or more consecutive advertisements.
Members qualify for 50% discount (n/a to colour ads)
Copy must be good quality and photocopy ready;
(Preferably as a jpeg or Word document.)
The editor reserves the right to adjust submitted material.
Deadline for inclusion: 1st of Feb, May, Aug or November.
Contact office@toylibrary.co.nz or phone 0800-148-697.
47
Ester, Irene, Vanessa, Di, Karen, Jane,
Tara, Heather and Christine extend
their very warm wishes for a Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year to you,
your toy library committee, and
members. WE hope you all have a safe,
fun-filled summer and look forward to
working with you again in 2014.
TLFNZ is supported by:
48