The Toy Lending Library is a curated collection of over 2,000 new and “up-cycled” non-electronic toys, games, and puzzles for children up to eight years old with a wide variety of interests and needs — along with more than 300 resource books for adults — that support all areas of children’s development. Just like a traditional library, toys can be used onsite and / or checked out to bring home for up to four weeks (see below).
Our collection has been carefully selected for quality, safety, and educational enrichment in a wide range of play types: creative, pretend, physical, sensory, school, infant-toddler, games, and puzzles. Many are designed for all ages and inter-generational family play. Trained child-development staff are available to help identify developmentally appropriate selections for each child.
All toys, toy bins, and reading materials are thoroughly inspected and cleaned with certified safe, non-toxic disinfectants between each use or loan, and air purifiers are used in the Library and indoor play spaces. Face masks are also available on-site for both children and adults.
The Toy Library is open Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and on Friday or Saturday by appointment and is located behind the First Lutheran Church at 1663 Main Street (Route 6A) in West Barnstable, a mile from the Barnstable Park & Ride, Cape Cod Community College, and the YMCA.
On-site programs and events are free of charge, with a suggested donation of $5 per family. Cash contributions can be made in donation boxes or online [LINK] with creditcards or Venmo / PayPal. For more information on how to use the Lending Library, see below. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@capecodtoylibrary.org or (508) 648-3227. We look forward to seeing you at the Cape Cod Toy Library!
How to Borrow Toys and Books
Parents, grandparents, foster care, and adoptive and relative-care families) can check out up to six toys and resource books for two weeks, and renew them for an additional two weeks. Professionals who work with children and families — including childcare providers, educators / tutors, therapists / mental health practitioners, social workers, pediatricians, and others — can borrow up to 12 toys and books.
To use the Lending Library, borrowers need to register and purchase a PlayPass subscription for $30 a month, roughly $1 per day. (PlayPass scholarships are also available on a limited basis — scroll down for details and an application.) Among the benefits of a PlayPass subscription are:
More choice — Your child can choose from more than 2,000 toys, with new ones arriving every week, and take them home to play with for up to four weeks. If they decide they want something else, you can return the toys at any time and take out new ones. (This makes the Lending Library a great way to see if they really enjoy playing with a long sought-after toy before getting their own, sort of like test-driving a car before buying.)
Low cost — Consider the cost of providing a child with only a small fraction of the toys available to borrow from the Lending Library, even just the handful that he or she really wants. For $30, they have access to them all, without a permanent commitment. If they out-grow a particular toy, there are literally hundreds more to choose from.
Less clutter — Fewer toys purchased and potentially set aside later means fewer unused toys strewn around your home or filling their toy box, shelves, and other storage (or the floor of their room or elsewhere in the house). And learning to appreciate a reasonable number of toys serves as a good life-lesson, too.
Sustainability — Re-utilizing toys means less total waste of materials, including less packaging to produce and dispose of, and fewer environmentally damaging transportation-related emissions.
Happy and healthy children — The excitement and joy of experiencing new toys in a familiar, comfortable setting.
“One of the most valuable elements of the Cape Cod Toy Library is the PlayPass subscription. … Toy-lending gives the entire family access to a rotating selection of toys, games, and books for the cost of a single child’s annual toy budget. High-quality toys and games create brain and coordination development that encourage children’s imaginations and creativity through play … A PlayPass is a gold mine of enjoyment for any family!”— Janet Doucette, licensed mental health counselor
PlayPass Scholarships
Discounted PlayPass subscriptions are available to those in need, to the extent made possible by the Toy Library’s financial assistance fund, which is supported through sponsorships and grants. Applications for PlayPass scholarships can be downloaded or completed in-person at the Toy Library during open hours.
The Toy Library is also a proud participant in the Card to Culture program, a collaboration between the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Department of Transitional Assistance, the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, and the Massachusetts Health Connector, to broaden access to cultural programming.
Massachusetts EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders can receive a three-month ($90 value) sponsored PlayPass subscription at a “pay-what-you-can” rate ($0–30 per month), which can also be renewed every three months at a “pay-what-you-can” rate.
For more information about financial assistance or the Lending Library, please contact us at (508) 648-3227 or info@capecodtoylibrary.org.