Background Information

The Upper Hutt Toy Library is a non-profit community organisation, established in May 1991, with the aim of providing a wide range of educational toys, games and puzzles designed to aid the mental, physical and social development of children.  At 31 July, 2004, our membership consisted of 272 local families and catered for 456 children. Our membership catchment covers from the base of the Rimutaka Hill, down to Silverstream Bridge, across from Judgeford to Whitemans and Mangaroa Valleys.

We operate the only “Special Needs” Toy Library in the Hutt Valley and, with the assistance of an Occupational Therapist on session, look after the specific needs of 12 children with our range of specialised items. (These items are not available to “General Library” members.) Some local Rest Homes make use of the large selection of games and puzzles on offer. The criteria for being a member of the Special Needs Division is that the individual is receiving professional assistance or support from outside the family, usually after receipt of a referral letter.

The Toy Library is managed by a Committee consisting of volunteer members and one paid Librarian have the responsibility of running each Toy Library session, with the help of rostered volunteers. We are not, as some presume, part of the services the Upper Hutt City Council provides to the community, nor are we part of Plunket.

The services our two Librarians provide are important to the smooth running of the Toy Library and provide a stable “public face” to our organisation. They are able to aid parents with choosing toys that are suitable to the child’s age and developmental stage and are familiar with all the items stocked by the Toy Library.

The majority of our items are purchased via funding grants from various sources, although we do occasionally have items donated to us (usually second-hand). The stock available for rental is in excess of 1,500 items, ranging from basic 3 piece jigsaws to a ride-on Roller Coaster.

We own our “purpose-built” premises situated on City Council land, next to the Citizens Advice Bureau, in Logan Street.

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