We are proud of the excellent support that members and non-members give to the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library. We rely on our volunteers to greet and staff our front desk, serve on committees, keep our toys and play areas clean, help organize fundraising events and many other essential tasks. If you would like to volunteer, you may either become a member and enjoy membership privileges, or freely donate your time.  If you are interested in becoming a non-member volunteer, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Elaine Rybski, at elaine@rybski.net.

In addition to our two volunteer member levels, we have added a Deluxe membership. Deluxe memberships are great if you like to bring friends when you visit and it even includes a free private party! (Volunteering at the Deluxe level is optional but would certainly be wonderful!)

All people who sign up as volunteer members do so with the understanding that they will fulfill their hours at the front desk, greeting visitors, signing up members and checking toys in and out of the library. This function, called the volunteer on duty or VOD, is vital to the operation of the Toy Library. If no one is there to staff the desk, the library has to close.  Click here for a "volunteer reminders" guide to staffing the desk.

There are several ways to make serving as the VOD a more enjoyable experience. One of the most successful strategies is to use the buddy system. The volunteer coordinator will be more than happy to schedule two friends' volunteer hours at the same time, so that one person doesn't have to feel tied to the desk for the entire shift. The other point to remember is that 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.

So remember, your membership is important to the PTLL. If you have any concerns, please contact a board member and we will work with you to find a solution that works for you.

For an essay on some of the benefits of volunteering, check out Julie Vanneman's article from the May 2002 issue of Networks, the newsletter of the PTLL.