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Frequently Asked Questions

General

  • What is the Ballarat Toy Library?

  • Where is the Ballarat Toy Library located?

  • What are your opening hours?

  • How can I contact the Ballarat Toy Library?

  • Where can I park at the Ballarat Toy Library?

  • What age group is the Ballarat Toy Library for? 

  • Is there a list of toys available to look at online?

  • Do you have gift vouchers available?

  • How will I know which toys I have at home and when to return them? 

  • I’ve forgotten my password for the online toy catalogue and/or online volunteering allocations. How do I reset it?

  • ​Can I come and play in the library and not borrow anything?

  • I want to borrow a bulky toy, but you’re located upstairs! How do I get the toy to my car?

  • Do you accept toy donations?

  • Are the toys in the library clean?

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Membership

  • Are there any other fees outside of the membership cost? How much does it cost to become a member of the Ballarat Toy Library?

  • What does a membership give me access to?

  • Can I suspend my membership?

  • What payment methods do you accept?

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Borrowing Toys

  • How long can I borrow toys for?

  • Can I re-borrow a toy?

  • What happens if I lose a toy or a piece from a set?

  • What happens if I break a toy?

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Returning Toys

  • How do I return a toy to the library?

  • Do I need to clean the toys before returning them?

  • How will I know if all the pieces are there when I am ready to return a toy?

  • How can I check when my toys are due to be returned?

​

Volunteering

  • What does volunteering involve?

  • How do I become a volunteer?

  • How often do I have to volunteer to qualify for a discounted volunteer membership?

  • How do I self-nominate?

  • Can I volunteer more than 4 x 2hr sessions?

  • What happens if I do not self-nominate a time/session to volunteer?

  • Can my partner/mother/father/friend etc. volunteer on my behalf?

  • Can I bring my child/children with me while I volunteer?

  • Can I allocate my volunteering roster time online?

  • I have self-nominated for a session but can no longer attend. What should I do?

​

More

  • How can I join the toy library committee?

  • I still have questions about the toy library. Who should I contact?

General

 

What is the Ballarat Toy Library?

The Ballarat Toy Library has been running for over 40 years and is a not-for-profit, volunteer run community service. The toy library provides families, carers and community groups with access to thousands of quality, fun and educational toys for loan for a minimal fee. We have over 1500 toys in our collection.

 

Every child deserves access to a wide variety of toys at an affordable level that help develop their imagination and skills. 

 

Toy libraries are not just about the toys. They also:

  • Provide a space to connect with other families in the community. 

  • Help you save money by borrowing toys each week instead of buying new ones.

  • Prevent toys from ending up in landfill and reduce your carbon footprint.

  • Allow you to avoid clutter by borrowing larger and bulkier toys.

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Where is the Ballarat Toy Library located?

You can find us on Level 2 at Barkly Square (25-39 Barkly St, Ballarat East)

We are located in the same corner but one floor up from the ground floor cafe. Entry is via the courtyard (at the cafe).

 

Our library is also accessible for all abilities, including wheelchairs and prams. Barkly Square is equipped with automatic doors, ramps, disabled parking spaces, tactile paving and a lift to Level 2.

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What are your opening hours?

Tuesdays 10am-12 noon

Sundays 10am-12 noon

First Sunday of each month 2pm-4pm

 

We are closed on public holidays that fall on a Tuesday or a Sunday.  

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How can I contact the Ballarat Toy Library?

Email: ballarattoylibrary@gmail.com

 

Phone: 0411 320 811 (Sally: President)

 

Website: https://ballarattoylibrary.wixsite.com/ballarat

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ballarattoylibrary

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Where can I park at the Ballarat Toy Library?

There are a number of parking options at Barkly Square. 

You can park in:

  • the main car park off Princess St South (there is a slight uphill walk from here) 

  • Barkly St roadside parking

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What age group is the Ballarat Toy Library for? 

0-12 years. However, we encourage play in the home at every age and ability.

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Is there a list of toys available to look at online?

Yes. We have an online catalogue of toys that can be viewed at https://ballarat.setls.com.au/toy_picture_index 

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This catalogue is available publicly and can be viewed by non-members. 

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Do you have gift vouchers available?

Yes. Please speak to our friendly reception volunteers about arranging a gift voucher.

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How will I know which toys I have at home and when to return them? 

There are a few ways to do this:

You can simply ask the reception volunteers. They can let you know what’s on your account and when it is due back. 

 

When you become a member, you can create an account and log in to the database via the following website: https://ballarat.setls.com.au/login This database will also:

  • show you any toys you have on loan,

  • allow you to reborrow toys you are enjoying

  • enable you to nominate your volunteering sessions (if required)

  • show you any missing pieces from current or past toys

  • show opening hours and/or calendar events for the Ballarat Toy Library  

 

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I’ve forgotten my password for the online toy catalogue and/or online volunteering allocations. How do I reset it?

  • Go to the login page for your Ballarat Toy Library online account. https://ballarat.setls.com.au/login 

  • Click ‘Sign In’

  • Click ‘Forgotten password?’

  • Type in the email address connected to your Ballarat Toy Library account.

  • Click ‘Reset Password’

  • You will receive an email with further instructions.

  • If you do not receive an email, be sure to check your spam folder.

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Can I come and play in the library and not borrow anything?

Our library is a wonderful place to meet other families in our community, however we are restricted with the amount of space we have. 

For safety reasons, we recommend borrowing some toys and utilising the shared community spaces in and around Barkly Square to enjoy playing with your borrowed toys and other children.  
 

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I want to borrow a bulky toy, but you’re located upstairs! How do I get the toy to my car?

The Ballarat Toy Library has a number of large courtesy carts that you can use to move any of the larger toys safely and easily to your car. These carts fit into the lift so there’s no need for you to carry large toys up and down stairs. 

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There is a loading zone off the courtyard near the back door (cafe entrance) that you can park in while you load up. Members are required to simply return the trolley to Level 2 once you have finished using it.

 

If you are returning a number of large toys, and are on your own/ with very young children/babies please call ahead and one of our volunteers may be able to meet you in the loading zone to assist. 

 

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Do you accept toy donations?

If you have toys that you wish to donate please contact us or speak with one of our volunteer supervisors at the library during opening hours. 

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We do accept some donations, however there are restrictions on toys that we are able to accept. Some examples of toys we cannot accept are: toys with button batteries, soft toys, bath toys, plug in electrical toys, toys that require a charger or usb and books. 

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Donated toys must be in good condition, contain all pieces and be easy to clean. 

 

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Are the toys in the library clean?

Members are expected to clean toys before returning them so the next family can enjoy them. We ask all members to return toys in a condition that they would like to borrow them. Please refer to our Care of Toys cheat sheet for tips on cleaning different types of toys.

Membership

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Are there any other fees outside of the membership cost?

The Ballarat Toy Library does not charge extra fees on top of your membership fee. However, if you return a toy that has been broken beyond repair (such as a toy that has been chewed by a pet or damaged with permanent marker) we may ask for a small donation to be made so that we can attempt to replace that toy or part.

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How much does it cost to become a member of the Ballarat Toy Library?

Standard Membership - no volunteering required $135

Standard Volunteer Membership - volunteering is required $69

Concession Membership - no volunteering required $71

Concession Volunteer Membership - volunteering is required $36

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Members choosing a volunteer option have their fees discounted. Volunteering involves a minimum of 4 x 2 hour sessions over the space of a year. Please see our FAQs on volunteering for more information about duties.

 

 

What does a membership give me access to?

Becoming a member gives you access to over 2000 quality toys to borrow. You can borrow up to four toys at a time. You can keep these toys for up to four weeks. Note that if you borrow a set, this is only considered one toy eg. foam blocks may come as a set of 4.

 

 

Can I suspend my membership?

Unfortunately not. Toy library membership is an annual membership lasting for 12 months from the date of joining/renewing.

 

 

What payment methods do you accept?

Our preferred payment methods are:

- Card payments in person at the library

- Online bank transfers:

          Account name: Ballarat Toy Library

          BSB: 633-000

          Account Number: 111460648

          Reference: Mship *surname*

- Cash payments can also be made in person at the library. Please note that correct cash is preferred as no cash is kept on site.

Borrowing Toys

 

How long can I borrow toys for?

You can borrow toys for up to four weeks.

 

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Can I re-borrow a toy?

Of course! This can be done online via your Ballarat Toy Library online account (https://ballarat.setls.com.au/login) or you can speak to one of our friendly volunteers at the library during opening hours.

 

 

What happens if I lose a toy or a piece from a set?

We recognise that family life can be chaotic, busy and messy. All of our toys are marked with ‘BTL’ and an item number. This allows you to recognise a toy library item when it is mixed in with your toys at home. If you have lost a piece from a toy, please return the toy and make a note of the missing piece in our ‘returns book’ at the library. This is found outside the ‘returns room’ (also known as the ‘dark room’) where you return your toys. If you have misplaced an entire toy, please email us or speak to one of our volunteers at the library during opening hours and we will note it onto our system. If you later find a piece or a toy that belongs to our library, please return it to the counter and we will do our best to match it back up with the original toy.

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What happens if I break a toy?

We check our toys regularly for wear and tear and remove toys that are past their best. However, we know that toys don’t last forever and sometimes accidents happen and things get broken. If a toy is broken, please return the toy and speak to one of our friendly volunteers at the library during opening hours so we can note it on our system and do our best to repair it. If a toy is broken beyond repair (eg. chewed by a dog or damaged with permanent marker) we may ask for a small donation to be made to assist with replacing the item.

Returning toys

 

How do I return a toy to the library?

We are very fortunate to have a dedicated room for returning toys at our library. This room is located to the left of the entrance to our borrowing space. When you return a toy you will need to use the ‘returns book’ to:

  • write down the codes of the toys that you are returning

  • sign that you have cleaned the toys

  • note down any damage or missing parts (if required)

  • provide any feedback on a toy (optional)

 

Once you have done this you can take the toy(s) into the ‘returns room’ (also known as the ‘dark room’ due to its previous use as a photography lab) and place it against the far wall in the bays.

 

Do I need to clean the toys before returning them?

Yes - with the exception of costumes. It is a condition of borrowing a toy that you clean it before you return it. This can be done by wiping the toy with warm soapy water or antiseptic spray and wipe. Please do not soak any wooden toys or submerse any toys in water. 

 

You are not required to wash costumes before returning them. We have a wonderful volunteer team who assist with this job to lengthen their lifespan and keep them on our shelves for as long as possible. 

 

How will I know if all the pieces are there when I am ready to return a toy?

Each toy comes with a label that contains a list of items included in the set. Please check this list when you receive a toy to ensure all the pieces are there. You can also check on online to see if there are any pieces already logged as missing on the system for that toy. 

You can log in to your Ballarat Toy Library online account at https://ballarat.setls.com.au/login.

 

If there are any pieces missing, please let us know via email or note it into the ‘returns book’ when you return the item.

 

All of our toys are marked with ‘BTL’ and an item number. This allows you to recognise a toy library item when it is mixed in with your toys at home. 

 

Before returning a toy please count the pieces and compare this to the list on the toy’s label. If there are any pieces missing, mark it into the ‘returns book’. If you find any missing pieces at a later date, please return them to the library.

 

How can I check when my toys are due to be returned?

You can log into your Ballarat Toy Library online account at https://ballarat.setls.com.au/login to see any toys you have on loan and when they are due to be returned. You can also use this link to reborrow any toys you and your child are enjoying. 

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You can also ask one of our friendly volunteers at the library when your toys are due back. 

Volunteering

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What does volunteering involve?

Volunteering at the Ballarat Toy Library is rewarding, fun and easy! It’s a great way to meet new people and help put toys into the hands of families in the community. 

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Volunteering can vary each session. Some tasks include:

  • Returning toys onto the system

  • Cleaning toys

  • Checking the parts and pieces of returned toys

  • Marking toys as ‘borrowed’ on the system 

  • Putting toys back on display in the library

  • Meeting and greeting families 

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If you wish to become more involved with the Ballarat Toy Library, please enquire with one of our volunteer supervisors about joining the committee. 

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How do I become a volunteer?

When you complete your membership form, simply tick the box to show that you are interested in volunteering.

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You do not have to be a member to volunteer. We also welcome volunteers from outside the Ballarat Toy Library community. Please send us an email at ballarattoylibrary@gmail.com to register your interest if you are not a member. 

 

All volunteers must be familiar with the Child Safe Policy before assisting at the Ballarat Toy Library. This policy is displayed inside the library on the entry wall. 

 

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How often do I have to volunteer to qualify for a discounted volunteer membership?

You are required to undertake 4 x 2hr sessions during your 12 month membership period. These times can be allocated by you via your Ballarat Toy Library online account https://ballarat.setls.com.au/login  

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How do I self-nominate?

You will receive notification (email and/or text) that the volunteer calendar needs to be filled. Note: The calendar is available for a 12 month period - so if you want you can schedule volunteer sessions in advance.

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You will then need to log into your Ballarat Toy Library account, access the calendar and self-nominate for an available session. Alternatively, you can text our current Volunteer Coordinator Kate Bertoncini on 0423 106 895 or send an email to ballarattoylibrary@gmail.com for assistance in nominating. 

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An instructional video on how to nominate can be found at https://ballarat.setls.com.au/user_help_page 

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Current volunteer sessions match our opening hours.

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Note: Volunteers can choose to undertake your 4 volunteer sessions however suits you best (e.g. 1 session every quarter or 4 sessions in a row etc.). 

 

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Can I volunteer more than 4 x 2hr sessions?

Yes of course! Please feel free to nominate as much as you like. The Ballarat Toy Library is completely volunteer run so the more you can help out the easier it is for everyone and the more fun projects we can undertake (e.g. getting donated toys into the library quicker for everyone to enjoy).

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There are always plenty of tasks to help with so should you happen to have consistent availability outside library opening hours. Please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator Kate Bertoncini on 0423 106 895 or email ballarattoylibrary@gmail.com to discuss.

 

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What happens if I do not self-nominate a time/session to volunteer?

One of our committee members will get in contact with you to assist with allocating a volunteering session. 

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We understand that life is busy and circumstances change. If you need to change your membership to a ‘non-duty’ membership this can be arranged by speaking with one of our volunteer supervisors at the library during opening hours or by emailing ballarattoylibrary@gmail.com 

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When upgrading your membership all volunteering sessions you have completed are taken into account and your additional fee reduced accordingly. 

 

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Can my partner/mother/father/friend etc. volunteer on my behalf?

Of course! Please be sure that your friend tells the duty supervisor who they are volunteering on behalf of. 

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All volunteers must be familiar with the Child Safe Policy before assisting at the Ballarat Toy Library. This policy can be found on our website here*need to insert this* and is also displayed inside the library on the entry wall.  

 

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Can I bring my child/children with me while I volunteer?

Absolutely! What a great way to road test the toys in the library and make some new friends. Just remember the library is there for them, so make sure they have a great time while you volunteer. And don’t forget snacks!

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Equally should you be able to volunteer without your child/children please feel free to take a breather and make a hot drink in the kitchen should you wish.

 

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Can I allocate my volunteering roster time online?

Yes!
- Log into your Ballarat Toy Library online account via https://ballarat.setls.com.au/login
- Select ‘Calendar’ to view session times
- Allocate a session by clicking ‘self-nominate’
- Confirm this allocation by clicking ‘OK’

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I have self-nominated for a session but can no longer attend. What should I do?

We understand that things pop up and plans change so you may no longer be able to volunteer for a session. If this is the case please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Kate Bertoncini on 0423 105 895. 

More

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How can I join the toy library committee?

We always welcome new committee members. You do not need any particular experience to be a valuable committee member - just a willingness to participate and take an interest in the future direction of the Toy Library.

 

Committee meetings are held monthly on Thursday evenings, commencing 7:30pm. If you are interesting in joining the committee please email ballarattoylibrary@gmail.com 

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I still have questions about the toy library. Who should I contact?

We are more than happy to assist you where we can. No question will go unanswered if you contact the right person. At the Ballarat Toy Library that person is our hard-working President, Sally. She is a font of knowledge and will do her best to point you in the right direction to get your answer.


Please contact her on 0411 320 811 or via email ballarattoylibrary@gmail.com

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