Minnesota Toy Library

Welcome! 

Thanks for stopping by to learn more about the Minnesota Toy Library. 

Who are we?

The Minnesota Toy Library has a staff of 3: Rebecca, Executive Director, Teresa, Northeast Director, and Kari, St. Paul Director. They’re local Twin Cities moms who operate the three toy library branches in addition to their daytime jobs.  

We have a strong board of directors that support our mission plus many volunteers who help keep our library open and running.

(pictures of board, staff, families, volunteers)

What do we do?

Our mission is to reduce waste, foster child development, and build community. We do this by offering three toy library locations around the Twin Cities Metro area for borrowing toys.

                       Car ramps are popular!

Why do we do it?

Borrowing toys is a better option for playtime because it uses mostly secondhand toys (when we do buy new, we buy from reputable game makers and high quality materials), which doesn't require anything new to be made! It's saves families money and keeps toys rotating through the home - keeping playtime fresh and your house clutter free. 

                          Finding the perfect puzzle

How do we do it? 

We are a small but mighty team. We are passionate about our mission and love what we do. Our board of directors helps us focus on our strategic plan and brainstorm the future of the toy library. Our volunteers are the backbone of the toy library, they help run our open hours and spread the word about the toy library. Thank you volunteers!!

                      Two volunteers showcasing some board games

We are reliant on membership fees and donations to keep the toy library up and running. We have to pay for lots of operational things such as rent for each of our three spaces, small, small salaries (always hoping to increase this!) for our three employees, and insurance to name a few. Small items in our budget are for buying new toys, volunteer appreciation, and furnishings (bookshelves, computers). 

                        St. Paul Toy Library Branch

We cannot do this without YOU. Your donation helps us keep toy lending as an option for children in Minnesota. By doing so, we are cutting down on our carbon footprint and supporting young kiddos development. 

Thank you for reading. 

Thank you for supporting a sustainable alternative for playtime!

~Rebecca Nutter, Executive Director