BTL Open Sessions are back!

Yes! It’s all happening!

After working very hard the past months cleaning and repacking toys, as well as deep cleaning and refurbishing the library, we are super happy to announce that starting Thursday 26 November 2020, the Bayside Toy Library will finally reopen its doors to its lovely community! We are so excited!!!

Here’s some useful information about the return of our open sessions.

SESSIONS

We will reopen with two sessions a week, Thursday afternoons 12.30pm – 2.30pm and Saturday mornings from 9.30-11.30am. These sessions were picked based on your survey responses. We’ll listen to feedback and pending how things travel, we might look at opening a third session another day of the week.

You won’t need to book an appointment to attend our open sessions, just turn up. In saying that, we can accomodate a maximum of 20 people at a time, so if we reach capacity you might need to wait outside for a bit.

We do ask, if possible, for only one member of your family to attend at a time, to allow more members per session.

We would appreciate, where possible, if our little members could stay home while parens and grandparents pick up their toys. Unfortunately, to comply with COVID-safety guidelines, a number of measures we’ve had to put in place make it not so enticing for kids to attend. For example, all doors and child security gates will be open (to minimise the surfaces members need to touch), we ask that members don’t touch toys unless they intend to borrow them and we can no longer be a Stay and Play destination. If your child does come along, we do ask that they stay with you at all times.ay

TOY CLEANING

It is so very important that you clean (and dry!) the toys, bags and tubs before return in line with DHHS regulations and our updated cleaning guidelines.

In a nutshell, toys need to be thoroughly cleaned before they are returned with a 2 in 1 detergent / disinfectant. Upon returning toys, we will ask you to sign a cleaning declaration that confirms you’ve cleaned your toys in this manner, which will be recorded on file. If you’ve forgotten, there will be a cleaning station out in the foyer to do this before you enter the library.

COUNTING TOYS

Pre-COVID, when returning toys all pieces would be counted on the spot and when borrowing toys, members could count pieces before leaving the library.

However, to minimise time at the library and ensure social distancing, there is no longer a counting bench at the library and toys are not to be counted until members get home. When toys are returned, counting will occur within the following week by BTL staff & volunteers. If you have a missing piece we ask that you renew the toy until it can be found or replaced. If we discover a missing piece in a toy you have returned, we will email with our bank details so you can transfer the $2 missing piece fine.

When borrowing toys, please make sure you check and count all pieces in the first 24 hours. If there are missing pieces, please email us immediately, otherwise we will assume the toy was loaned in perfect conditions (and you will be held responsible for the missing pieces.)

VOLUNTEERS

With open sessions coming up, we need our members to resume roster duty, so please head to your online account and pick from one of the available slots. Unfortunately, in line with our COVID-safe guidelines, members will not be able to bring children to their duty session.

There are two options for 2 or 3 hour duty with each session. If you choose the 3 hour slot you will help us clean and pack up. As a reminder your duty requirements are 6 hours per membership year, and you can access this via your member log in.

TOY HOLDS

Toys can no longer be placed on hold, as we revert back to open session borrowing. However you can still browse them online to give you an idea of what is available prior to visiting the library.

GET EXCITED!

Next time you visit, you will find a bunch of changes beyond the new packaging: new layout, new signs, new toys and the usual welcoming vibe. Keep your eyes peeled for a live walkthrough prior to our open on Facebook and Instagram, as well as member photoshoots and some exciting competitions!

We can’t wait to welcome you to the library again.

Much love,

Sarah and the Bayside Toy Library Committee.