Did you know that local family support charity, Purple Elephant, also offers a low-cost, toy-lending service called The Toy Library?

Re-launched this month in partnership with the Frome Library, the Purple Elephant Toy Library is open to all for borrowing each Wednesday afternoon, located within the children's reading area, on the ground floor of the Frome Library building itself.

With over 50 'Play Sacks' to select from, suitable for babies, toddlers and youngsters up to approximately aged 6, the brightly coloured drawstring bags provide a wonderful experience for children who can, along with a parent/carer, make their own choice from the onsite picture catalogue (also viewable online) and then take that home to play with. 

The contents of the bags have been selected to support learning and development through play, with the borrowing open from 1pm to 3pm on a Wednesday (and 'returns' can be made any time that the Library is open).

Ranging a hundred building blocks, to texture toys with shapes and colours for very young learners, to Brio train tracks, a marble run or outdoor circus skills equipment, the Play Sacks offer little ones a sense of 'new' toys every week, changing with their developing characters. 

Arguably even more important, this sharing and re-use system also helps reduce wastage and landfill dumping, as well as saves money on unnecessary purchases and stops the family home becoming cluttered with even bigger mountains of discarded toys.

Frome and area families who would like to borrow toys simply need to join the Frome Library as a member (which is free) and then come along on Wednesday afternoons to select a take-home-toy at a cost of £2 (£1 if on Universal Benefit), paid in cash.

Purple Elephant's team tell us "We are keen to let people know that the Toy Library, like all our services, is about encouraging families to play together, so there is no deposit needed or any penalty for breakages. Accidents happen, toys wear out – that's all part of play. We are delighted that Frome Library has joined with us in this exciting venture. The Library in our town is so much more than just a book-lending place. It is a vital part of our community, a hub of activity for even the very young. We can't wait to play…more!"

Full details of how to use the Toy Library loans service, its opening hours, as well as pictures of the Play Sack contents, can be found on the Purple Elephant website www.purpleelephant.org.uk/toy-library