Toy Library
- 05-08-2008, 12:43 PM #9Banned
- Join Date
- Jan 2008
- Location
- hong kong
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- 20
Someone in U.S. has already started this toy business. You sign it up with credit card and they charge you monthly (about $29). You select toy online, sometimes need to wait a while to get the toy you / your kids want. Greatest part is they send toys to your address. I believe that owner just started to collect profit recently after spending $200, 000 to get it going. Kind of a toy version of netflix.
Great part-time work for stay home moms. If you are thinking about this seriously, PM me.
- 05-08-2008, 02:19 PM #10Registered User
- Join Date
- Jan 2008
- Location
- Silverstrand
- Posts
- 48
All these great ideas. I really like the idea of first setting up an online library to iron out all the kinks in operating a library with a view to having a place to visit at a later stage. I should be able to help out with storage initially until we find a bigger place for all the toys.
- 05-08-2008, 06:10 PM #11Registered User
- Join Date
- Jan 2008
- Location
- Pok Fu Lam
- Posts
- 32
I have got alot of storage space at my place as well.
- 05-08-2008, 07:41 PM #12
Toy libraries are well established in New Zealand as well. They are generally run as "Not for Profit" organisations, administered mostly by parents.
I would imagine an internet swap would work well for some people, but then do you swap back...? Or onward swap - is this a means of passing on second hand toys...?
As a borrowing venture, I think the internet would only add costs, as you still need a location to store the toys, and ensure cleaning and safety checks occur. And you would add the cost of shipping logistcs.
I am very interested in the internet swap idea - please keep me in the loop if you proceed. And I will also investigate setting up a physical library.
- 05-08-2008, 09:09 PM #13Registered User
- Join Date
- Jan 2007
- Location
- Pokfulam
- Posts
- 100
Swapping can be done instantaneously. Setting up a toy library involves cataloging. Cataloging is, by itself, a very time consuming process.
Some examples of cataloging fields for toys:
-age groups
-soft/hard
-no. of parts (in a set)
-maker (brand)
-batteries needed?
-girls'/boys' toys
-condition
and so forth.
(Sorry - I'm a geek. I read cataloging and classification once upon a time pre-baby days.)
- 05-09-2008, 01:53 AM #14Banned
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Location
- TKO
- Posts
- 221
public toy library
hi moms,
how to reserve seat for toy library? is it only available in the Central library here in HK?
- 05-09-2008, 09:06 AM #15
There is a toy library within the Central Library in Hong Kong. Parents book a time period and children can play with the toys for 45 minutes at a time. This is administered by Playright in Hong Kong.
Based on the small amount of feedback from this forum, and some conversations with other parents in the area, I am working on feasibility of establishing a lending toy library in Hong Kong. This will enable parents to take age appropriate toys home for their children for either 2 or 4 weeks at a time. I have some information from the International Toy Libraries group, and I'm working on a charter currently to do this locally, if it is feasible, then it will require vounteer parents to assist in administration. And, it will take time - as with all good things.
In the mean time - to fill this need - I like the idea posted by Miaka for Yahoo Groups toy swap. I'm not very techy, but if you need any help to set this up, please PM me.
- 05-09-2008, 09:40 AM #16Registered User
- Join Date
- Aug 2006
- Location
- Chai Wan
- Posts
- 173
i've set up a yahoo groups. to join (you will need a yahoo id), pls visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hktoylibrary/
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