Our Story
Who We Are
The Cape Cod Toy Library, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 to give Cape children and families a place to learn, explore, and grow through play. Our mission is simple: to foster healthy child development and learning through play by providing enriching, accessible, culturally inclusive, educational environments, resources and guidance for all children and families.
Learn more about:
Our Beginnings
The Cape Cod Toy Library, Inc. was founded by Deb Willsea, a Lower Cape resident whose passion for play began decades earlier in Rochester, New York, where she created a toy library and play space that became a model for communities worldwide. Encouraged by Cape families, Deb brought that same passion for community and play learning to the Cape—creating a welcoming hub where children, parents, and caregivers discover the power of play together. Read Deb’s Story »
Before we had a home base or staff, volunteers set up play areas at community events. With help from early childhood professionals, we hosted “Family Play Days” at A Baby Center, filling the Fellowship Hall with music, building, reading, puzzle, sensory, and puppet play stations. We also partnered with the Cape Cod Maritime Museum to host a “Family Boat Play Day” with themed activities for imaginative and creative play.
In 2019, we found our first home at First Lutheran Church in West Barnstable, housing our growing toy collection and hosting regular Family Play Days. During the pandemic (2020–2022), volunteers worked behind the scenes to launch the Toy Lending Library (May 2022) and the Outdoor Play Oasis behind Hyannis Public Library, expanding our mission to inspire play both indoors and out.
A New Chapter
A new chapter begins December 2025, when Cape Cod Toy Library, Inc. opens its permanent home at 1919 Main Street #6a in West Barnstable. The Reggio-inspired Community Play Space will give families, as well as those who work with and care for children, year-round access to an enriching indoor play learning environment, a comprehensive Toy Library collection, a Parent/Educator Resource Library, and staff with expertise in child development and play learning.
What We Do
We create Family PlayScapes — indoor and outdoor spaces designed for discovery — and operate a Toy Lending Library that lets families, and those that work with and care for children, borrow toys and resource books. We also host family play programs, workshops for parents, and professional development for educators and childcare providers.
Our resources include:
Over 2,000 developmental toys, puzzles, and games
More than 300 books on child development, play learning, parenting, and more
Play spaces designed for children from infancy through age 8, with many materials for neurodiverse children and multi-generational play
Trained child development staff to guide families and support play-based learning
Who We Serve
Cape Cod Toy Library is for all Cape children and families — parents, grandparents, foster, adoptive and relative care families, childcare providers, early intervention specialists, educators, and social workers. Whether you live here year-round, part-time, or are simply visiting on vacation, our doors are open to you.
We also place a special focus on families with the greatest needs — including non-English-speaking households, single parents, families with children with special needs, those facing isolation or mental health challenges, and families with limited transportation. Our outreach especially prioritizes Mid, Lower, and Outer Cape communities, where fewer early childhood resources are available.
Our New Home
In 2025, Cape Cod Toy Library, Inc. moved into its permanent home at 1919 Main Street #6A in West Barnstable, made possible by a generous donor. This central community resource hub will open to families in December, offering:
Expanded Reggio-inspired indoor play learning environments
Multi-purpose rooms for family programs, small groups, and therapeutic use
A comprehensive Toy Lending Library collection
A Resource Library for parents, caregivers, and educators
Our Memberships
Cape Cod Toy Library offers three flexible annual membership options so families can access play in the way that fits them best and support our nonprofit mission of making high-quality play available to all families on the Cape.
Borrowing Memberships give families access to our circulating collection of toys, games, books, and learning materials to take home.
Play Memberships provide unlimited visits to our Reggio-inspired Community Play Space.
And for those who want the full experience, our Play & Borrow Membership combines both—unlimited playtime plus a rotating selection of high-quality toys to enjoy at home.
We also offer a Professional Borrowing Membership for educators, social workers, therapists, and other practitioners who use toys and materials in their work.
A Community Resource for All
Cape Cod Toy Library play spaces and resources not only enrich the lives of children and families, it also enhances the wider Cape community by:
Expanding access to education for children and their caregivers
Creating safe, welcoming spaces that bring people together
Supporting young families and helping them stay on Cape Cod
Encouraging sustainability through toy sharing and reuse
Promoting health and well-being through active play
Strengthening the fabric of community life
Strengthen this community resource by getting involved!