Come play at our playspace as a visitor or join us as a volunteer or non-volunteer member. We welcome children birth through kindergarten and their caregivers.
For more information, see also:
Toy Lending privileges – for more about the 300+ toys that members may borrow
Playspace rules – see how we keep our playspace happy (and clean!)
Volunteering information – more about pitching in to help keep the Toy Library running
Board of Directors – contact information for Board members
Your first ever visit to the Toy Library is free. Children under age 1 are always free.The per-visit fee for non-members is $5 per child, with a maximum of $10 per family. Adults are free.
Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
As a co-operative, the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library relies on its volunteer membership to work together to keep the place running. In a co-op, everyone contributes a little bit to make great big things happen! We also welcome non-volunteer members and appreciate their support for our wonderful playspace and programs.Current Membership Levels
Associate Volunteer4 Volunteer2 Non-Volunteer Deluxe Note: The Toy Library's membership is based on a 12-month membership year. (We are closed for the month of August.) Call the Toy Library at (412) 682-4430 for more information.
Also note that we offer subsidized memberships to families who need them.
To become a member, you must fill out a Membership Application and return it to us either by dropping it off at the toy lending library or mailing it to us (our address is printed on the application).
Families with children birth through kindergarten may join the PTLL. (Children may be PTLL members until the summer after they finish kindergarten, regardless of when they turn 6.)A family membership includes any adult who is caring for your children. A grandparent, aunt, nanny or other adult may bring your child to the PTLL under your membership.
More than 200 families become members of the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library each year. Some have lived in Pittsburgh for generations and others are from countries around the world and are temporarily calling Pittsburgh home.
Volunteer members work shifts as the Volunteer On Duty (VOD) at the Toy Library. VODs open and close the playspace, greet visitors, answer questions, and check toys in and out of the toy library.The VOD function is vital to the operation of the Toy Library. If no one is there to staff the desk, the library has to close. However, it's important to remember that whether you're a visitor, a member, or a VOD, your child comes first. We're all parents or caregivers of young children, and we can wait while the VOD attends to her child's needs.
If you come often – and we hope you will! – you will find that it is more economical to join as a member than to pay the per-visit fee. Membership support enables us to continue a long tradition of providing a safe, playful and imaginative environment for our children to enjoy – for more than 34 years.
All members, both volunteer and non-volunteer, are welcome to become involved in the organization. All members are welcome to attend meetings of the Board of Directors (generally scheduled the first Saturday of the month at 9 am), sign up to help on committees, and much more. Watch for special one-time volunteer opportunities posted on the PTLL bulletin board and let someone on the Board know if you would like to help in any special way.See the section on volunteering for more information.
