This magnetic tile ball run is one of those toys that never really gets old. Children can build a track, test it, tweak it, knock it down and start again - all while learning through play. It naturally supports problem-solving, patience and spatial awareness, and there’s something incredibly satisfying about watching a ball finally make it all the way to the bottom. We love that it grows with your child too!!! This is something that is special about a lot of our favourites at

Toy Swap Day is back at Carnegie Toy Library for 2026! Have toys at home your little ones have outgrown or no longer reach for? Bring them along and swap them with some from our shelves! We’ll have a selection of toys that aren’t getting borrowed as often but are still in great condition - ready for a fresh round of play. A simple swap that makes space at home while keeping good toys in circulation.... ♻️ We can't wait to see you there. 📅 Saturday, 28th of March ⏰ 10:00am -

Code, play, repeat! Bopper introduces kids to early coding, sequencing and problem-solving, all without screens. Using simple cards, little hands program Bopper’s moves, building logic, focus and confidence through play. Cute, clever and full of “I did it!” moments. Check out Bopper at the Carnegie Toy Library during our next Open Session (subject to availability, please check via your Member Portal if Bopper is available if you'd like to borrow). 🧠🧩✨

Before returning toys to Carnegie Toy Library, please: ☐ Wipe toys with baby wipes or antibacterial wipes (Keeping a packet near your toys can make returns much easier) ☐ Wash toys that need extra care in hot, soapy water Please don’t fully immerse toys, as water can get trapped inside ☐ Use a toothbrush or cotton wool on a stick Great for getting into small nooks and crannies Dry thoroughly with a clean tea towel ☐ Disinfect toys if your child has been unwell Disinfectant wi

From Steph, to all of our members and volunteers: "I would like to express my appreciation for my time as coordinator at the Carnegie Toy Library. It has been a privilege to work with our members in this role, and I truly appreciate your patience and kindness over the past few years. Today will be my last open session, Oksana will still be running Wednesday Night sessions and Jacinta will be running Friday & Saturday sessions." ... AND A MESSAGE FROM US TO STEPH: Thank you fo

Some toys look amazing… and come with a pretty hefty price tag. At the toy library, you can try before you buy - whether it’s something like a Yoto player or Stapelstein stepping stones, you can see how it actually works for your child, in your home, before committing. Will it be a daily favourite or a once-off novelty? Borrow first, find out, and make confident choices when you do decide to purchase. Smart for families. Kinder to the planet.

Got a birthday coming up? Our Party Packs are a fun, stress-free option for families, with toys suitable for a wide range of ages and group sizes. Less buying, less waste, and more room for play! 🧡 Head to our website to explore the full range and see what might suit your next celebration.

If you’re doing a post-Christmas tidy-up, Carnegie Toy Library happily accepts good-quality toy donations 🧸✨ Your donated toys help us refresh our collection, replace worn favourites and keep our shelves full for local families to enjoy. ✔ Clean ✔ Complete ✔ Gently used ✔ In great working order Every donation makes a real difference — thank you for supporting your local toy library 💛

More than half of all toys purchased in Australia - around 51% - end up in landfill within a year. Borrowing from the Toy Library means less waste, more savings, less clutter at home, and a positive step for the planet. A simple way to make play more sustainable! 🌱

We’re so grateful to the organisations and individuals who supported Carnegie Toy Library through grants in 2025. Your generosity helped us purchase new toys, refresh favourites and even invest in a new storage shed and Apple Mac - supporting both our collection and the volunteers who keep everything running behind the scenes. To every member, volunteer and supporter: this library exists because of you... 💛 Here’s to continuing the magic in 2026.

As some of you may know, Council will no longer be maintaining the garden. We’re now looking for someone local to help with regular mowing and blowing, with the occasional prune as needed. This is a paid role, and we’d love to hear from anyone interested or recommended by our community. Please get in touch with the office for more details, or feel free to pass this on to someone who might be suitable.

We’ll be reopening on Friday 16th, and we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back. We hope you’ve all had a restful break and enjoyed some time together. Before returning your toys, please remember to: ✔️ Check all pieces are accounted for and match the label ✔️ Wipe over all pieces so they’re clean and ready for the next family ✔️ Make sure any water or outdoor toys are clean and completely dry See you very soon... 💛

Drumroll please… 🥁 These were the toys our members loved most in 2025: 🧸 Little Tikes Mini Trampoline 🎹 Piano with Stool 👶 Doll Pram Clearly big hits for little people - and proof that the classics never go out of style. Thanks for loving (and borrowing!) them as much as we do 💛

What a year... 💛 In 2025, 192 new families joined our library and 562 new and replacement toys found their way onto our shelves - many thanks to successful grants and the support of our community. We don’t receive ongoing government funding, so every membership, party pack hire and grant truly makes a difference. Thank you for helping us keep the joy of play going for so many local families ✨

Water play + summer = the perfect combo! ☀️💦 Our Water Table - Rushing Rapids is one of the most loved toys in our collection. It helps little ones build fine motor skills, explore cause and effect, problem-solve and get creative and cool off while having big fun. And the best part? It’s a borrow-don’t-buy essential. Use it all summer long, then return it when the weather cools - no storage, no clutter, just pure splashy joy! 🙌 Ready to dive in? Make sure to add this one to

WHICH TOY ARE YOU TODAY? 🤔 1️⃣ Mr Potato Head 🥔 – feeling a little confused but rolling with it 😕 2️⃣ Thomas the Tank Engine 🚂 – wide-eyed, crazy and wondering what’s going on... 👀 3️⃣ My Little Pony 🐴 – confident, fabulous, and ready to perform 🎤✨ 4️⃣ Barbie Boat Adventure 🚤 – living your best life 🏖️ 5️⃣ Cuddly Baby Doll 🍼 – all tucked in, tired and not moving for anyone 😴 👇 Comment below with your vibe today!

Our shelves just got even more exciting with these fresh favourites ready to hire and play: 🛫 Airplane Rocker – perfect for imaginative adventures and gentle movement 💦 John Deere Water Table – hands-on outdoor fun with scoops, pours and splashes 💙 Bluey Switch Activated Soft Toy – cuddly, interactive and full of Bluey magic 🚗 Little Tikes Big Car Carrier – load, unload and zoom into creative play So many ways to learn, move, explore and have fun Come in and discover what

One of our most loved moments from the year - our July Storytime sessions with some truly special guests. We were so lucky to welcome Police Officer Alex from Ormond Police Station, who helped bring stories to life and taught our little members all about community helpers. We also enjoyed an exciting visit from palaeontologist Adele, who shared fascinating dinosaur and fossil fun, and paediatric doctor Rosemary, who made learning about looking after our bodies fun and friendl

Our final borrowing session for the year will be Saturday 20 December - then we take a little break and reopen on Friday 16 January! If you have toys due back during this time, no late fees will apply... If we don't see you before we close, have a fantastic festive season and we will see you in 2026!

Our latest arrivals have landed and they’re full of colour, creativity and movement – from Bluey favourites and magnetic tracks to balance bikes and outdoor water play... 💙🚲💦 Ready for the fun? Come explore what’s new at the Toy Library!