Wanaka Community Toy Library

2011 AGM

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +1200

Unlike the snow, the Annual General Meeting is coming up again soon, and feedback from members - as always - is most welcome. You can either come along on the night, or email us prior with anything that you would like discussed. The AGM will be held on Monday 11th July at 7:30pm, the venue to be advised. Please email Barb via the website contact form if you would like to attend or have anything to contribute.

Source: 2011 AGM

Returns letterbox

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +1200

We have recently installed a letterbox out the front of the toy library. It's purpose isn't for junk mail to accumulate - although that's likely to happen anyway - but to allow members to drop off missing pieces outside of toy library hours.

If you have any missing pieces from toys you have hired in the past, please feel free to drop them into the letterbox anytime.

Source: Returns letterbox

Stocktake Complete

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +1200

Aside from a bit of computer-updating stuff still to be done, the stocktake has been completed.

The toy library will now resume normal service, starting from tomorrow (Saturday 30th April).

Thanks to everyone who was able to help out at the stocktake or take toys home. The toy library is clean, the broken stuff has been cleared out or taken home for repair, and the library is brimming with lots of clean and freshly catalogued toys ready to be played with.

Source: Stocktake Complete

Toy Library closed while stocktake is completed

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +1200

Update 26th April: About 80% done now, We will likely be closed for new issues on Friday but open on Saturday. No further help from members is required, but please return any outstanding toys or missing pieces asap.

The toy library will remain closed for general business while we finish off the stocktake (we got about 60% done on Saturday).

Please, if you are available, come in during regular toy library hours to help out so we can open again sooner! If you have any toys out on hire or any missing pieces that need to be returned, please return these asap.

Also note the toy library is closed over Easter weekend.

Source: Toy Library closed while stocktake is completed

2011 Stocktake information

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +1200

The 2011 Stocktake will be held on the 16th April, and once again volunteers are needed to help out.

Last time, we closed the toy library down for a few weeks and had members come in and help out over that time. Then someone from another toy library mentioned that their stocktake is nailed in a single day, and actually we like the sound of that a lot more.

So, with that in mind, we are aiming to complete the stocktake on the 16th. We will be running 3 hour shifts starting at 9am, so if you are able to help out please put your name down at the toy library now.

Harvey Kane is co-ordinating the stocktake, so please contact Harvey if there are any questions 746 8133 (yes, that is a Wanaka number) or email through the contact form on this site.

$50 non-fundraising levy

For members who were not able to assist with the cake stall or A&P show, this will be the last opportunity to avoid paying the $50 non-fundraising levy. To put this another way - if you did not help out on the cake stall or A&P show, and don't assist with the stocktake, then there is a $50 fee.

If you can't make it on the 16th, please contact Harvey to arrange another time - we can give you some Lego to take home and count in your own time :)

Source: 2011 Stocktake information

A&P Show BBQ help needed

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +1300

The toy library could use some volunteers for the A&P show BBQ. This is typically a great fundraising event for us, last year raising over $1500 for the toy library.

Friday 11 and Sat 12 March from 10.30-12.30 and 12.30 - 2.30

If you can help, please contact Lucy Benson (443 1953 or 0210 222 0863), email us through the contact form or put your name down at the toy library.

Source: A&P Show BBQ help needed

Xmas hours for 2010

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +1300

We have now confirmed the opening hours for Xmas 2010.

As per the newsletter that went out by email last week, the Xmas hours are...

closed on Friday 24th December and will reopen Friday 7th January.

Source: Xmas hours for 2010

Dressups and new toys here

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +1300

NZ Community Trust grant

We have some new dress-up costumes available in the toy library, courtesy of a grant from NZ Community Trust.

These include...

mermaid
princess
astronaut
fireman
fairy

and some really cool puppets...

dinosaur
cow
crocodile
elephant

Queenstown Sky City Casino grant

Along with some of the money we raised at the cake stall, Queenstown Sky City Casino have helped us out with a grant for more outdoor toys. Just in time for summer :)

Source: Dressups and new toys here

Cake stall - $997.30 raised

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +1200

Our August cake stall raised a fantastic $997.30 for the toy library, with baking contributions from 53 members. This is a great result, and we are very pleased with this.

A sampling of the yummy baking that was on offer.

Librarian Tracey helping out on the stall.

We had enough baking to fill the table 3 times over - and almost everything sold.

Thank you

We would like to thank a few parties who helped make this happen.

Kai Whakapai
Ritual
Lakes Environmental
Everyone who donated baking
Jane, Jacqui, and the other committee members who helped organise the fundraiser

The Kai Whakapai coffees were popular - raising $200 for the toy library, as was the raffle for the lovely pie from Ritual which sold 36 tickets and was won by Carol Wyeth.

Great stuff.

Source: Cake stall - $997.30 raised

Help us out by having a coffee

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +1200

As mentioned in today's member newsletter, here's another way you can help out at Saturday's fundraiser if your cake-baking skills aren't much better than the West's on Outrageous Fortune.

All you need to do is buy a coffee from Kai Whakapai while the cake stall is running (Saturday 10am - noon) and mention the toy library - they will donate the value of that coffee to the toy library. Wow.

Prices on Fluffies at the Kai have also dropped recently to only 50c, making them the cheapest fluffies in town. Which makes a family visit that much more inviting.

A big thanks to Roger & Shonagh at Kai Whakapai for this generous support.

Source: Help us out by having a coffee

Do we still need CD-ROMs?

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +1200

The topic of what to do with our educational CD-ROMs was discussed at the last committee meeting. These are hardly ever borrowed by members, and many of these titles are 5-10 years old, which is very old in computer terms.

The committee is planning on selling these off if there is no demand for them (which certainly appears to be the case from the rental history) - and use the prime shelf space for something else that is more likely to get used.

Does anyone have comments on this? Perhaps you would like to buy some of the titles from us? Comment below or get in contact.

Source: Do we still need CD-ROMs?

Cake Stall - August 28th

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +1200

Our next fundraising event is coming up and as always, we could use your help in making this another successful event. These have worked very well in the past, and if the weather is shining, will bring in a nice little bundle of cash to spend on toys and other (admittedly less interesting) things like electricity and rent.

Cakes + Baking

We will post out more details closer to the day, but at this stage we are looking for members to bake a cake, a tray of cookies, or something delicious that we can sell on Saturday 28th August (2010). We would prefer it if you could drop these off on the Friday so we can price label everything, otherwise Saturday morning at the venue is fine too.

We have a good location - Corner of Ardmore and Helwick Streets, by the information board. The cake stall will run from 10:00 to 11:30am.

Running the stall

We are also looking for people to assist with running the stall on the day - please get in contact if you are able to help.

This does count as a 'fundraising event' in terms of the $50 fundraising levy - so if you are keen to avoid this fee next year, then baking a cake or helping at the stall will let you mark that one off your list.

Thanks very much :)

Source: Cake Stall - August 28th

Official website launch

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +1200

Today we officially launched the new website. In truth it's been online since May while we have been doing the development, but with this week being Toy Library Awareness Week and all, it's an appropriate time to start getting people using the site.

What's it about then?

We have some very specific goals for the website.

We want to make it easier for members to use the toy library.
We want to make it easier for families to join the toy library.
We want to make it easier for us to run ane maintain the toy library

With these goals in mind, we have opened up the following areas of the website:

Toy database

We have been busy writing some software to connect our toy library database to the website database. The website is now kept up to date (mostly) with the latest stock information from the toy library. Ever wanted to know what toys we have? Or when a particular toy was due to be returned?

It's all here on our Toys Page.

Toys on hire

Members can also login to see what toys they have on hire, and when they are due back. Again, this information is synchronised with the toy library database regularly so the website is kept up to date. This information will also be used for sending out email reminders about toys that are due back - saving the toy library the cost of cellphone calls having the librarians do this job (and freeing up the librarians for more productive things).

Members - we are emailing out passwords Tuesday 10th August (providing your email address is up to date at the toy library).

Communication

Communication has been a bit of a problem in the past - a certain number of emails bounce every time there is a mailout, and phone numbers change etc. We'd really like to keep these details as up to date as possible so everyone can get the most from their toy library membership, and is aware of our fundraising events etc.

Members might have noticed the new-look newsletters that have gone out recently, expect to see a lot more integration between the newsletters and the website in the future.

We also have a Facebook page up and running - if you are a Facebook, plase help support the toy library by becoming a fan or sharing the link with anyone who might be interested.

Future plans

We'd like to offer a lot more through the website, and really, there is so much that is possible. We have plans in place for payment facilities for paying fees online via credit card, being able to reserve a toy online, and potentially even a duty roster. All pretty exciting stuff, and some of this will be a first for any toy library in New Zealand.

Our web developer

Harvey Kane is our committee member driving this initiative, and all work has been provided on a voluntary basis. Harvey happens to be a commercial web developer by trade, specialising in database-driven websites and online shopping carts.

Source: Official website launch

Updated membership fees

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +1200

A discussion was had at the AGM regarding the different membership options, and the pricing. The overall sentiment was that a large number of members were opting for the non-duty membership, and this means that those with duty memberships need to help out more often to maintain a good level of service at the library. This isn't ideal for many families.

The toy library only exists based on member's help, so we want to encourage the duty memberships. With more people helping, you won't need to help out as often, and we think this is good for everyone.

From August onwards, we will be increasing the price of non-duty memberships to $75 per year (formerly $35). The $2 per toy fee still remains.

All other fees remain unchanged.

Source: Updated membership fees

New toys from the toy conference

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +1200

Our committee members have returned from the recent Toy Library conference in Christchurch, arms loaded with around $2000 worth of new toys for the library.

Here's what we will be adding to the collection over the next 2 weeks...

2 x Magnetico building block sets (magnetic small blocks)
2 x basic train sets that will suit from 2years +
4 x dress up capes – gorgeous! Ladybird / frog / bee / tiger
3 x stuffed animal dress ups - a big stuffed animal with a hole in the middle where the child goes with braces over their shoulders to hold it up, very cool! Crocodile / horse / lion
Sand & water play table with a mini train set running through it
2 x ride-on motor bikes
A 'throw the ring' game
A heap of WOW toys, new ones out at a really cheap price
Wooden hospital playset
Wooden car race stack
4x micano sets for older kids
3x magnetic drawing game things

The conference was lots of fun and we have plenty of new ideas as a result of the workshops and networking with other toy libraries around the country.

Source: New toys from the toy conference