Members Information Kit

The Wodonga Toy Library extends a warm welcome to you and your family and wishes you a happy membership.

COMMITTEE

All members are welcome and encouraged to participate in the Toy Library by attending committee meetings. Meetings are held once a month at 7.30pm. All committee positions become vacant at the AGM held within 5 months of the end of financial year and members are encouraged to nominate for these positions. Please contact the president for the date of the next meeting.

SPECIAL SKILLS

If you have any special skills such as carpentry, sewing, typing etc or would like to volunteer your time, please let us know as we can always use your help.

PRIVACY POLICY

The Wodonga Toy Library holds a variety of Personal Information necessary to enable the toy library to operate. This information includes name, address, phone, email and driver’s licence details.

This information will be solely used for the operations of the toy library. All information is gathered from the individual in question and no information is gathered without a specific purpose.

Information gathered will only be used by Committee members to assist in the running of the toy library, such as duty roster and follow up of toys. Personal information will only be disclosed to a third party in the case of theft.

COMMITTEE CONTACT DETAILS

WORKING WITH CHILDRENS CHECK

All members are encouraged to fill out a ‘Working with Children’s Check’ as part of their membership.  Forms are filled out then taken to the post office for submission and photo ID.  Apart from the photo, there is no other cost to volunteers.

MEMBERSHIP FEES

New and renewal membership fees from Jan 2023:

Fees are due in February each year.

Please Note…New members joining during the year will have fees adjusted in February to reflect the months of membership used.

Renewing members:

You have a 4 week period during the month of February to renew your membership and pay your membership fees. After this 4 week period, you cannot borrow toys until your fees are paid in full. The member on duty will give the borrower a receipt from the receipt book. The member name and number, renewal of membership/new membership and amount will be written on the receipt.

New members:

You cannot borrow toys until your fees are paid in full.

Financial Hardship/Special Consideration:

Special consideration in relation to payment of fees can be arranged with the President or Treasurer.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Borrowers must provide identification including current address and drivers licence information.

Borrowers must provide two phone numbers (one must be a landline, in the case of only one number a relative or business number must be given).

Duty is compulsory for all members (usually 4 times a year) and is organised by the Roster Co-ordinator.

For those unable to do roster duty, there is a non-duty fee that must be paid of $40.

LOAN PERIOD

Members agree to accept responsibility for all toys on loan to them. The loan period is for 2 weeks only. However, borrowing may be on a weekly basis if you wish.

Toys may only be borrowed by family/persons living at the address listed on the borrower’s membership form. Toys must go to the address listed on the membership form (ie. Toys are not to be borrowed on behalf of people residing at an address not listed on the borrower’s membership form).

BORROWING LIMITS

PARTY PACK POLICY

Party packs are available to full memberships only (casual memberships are excluded). You may borrow 3 additional toys on your membership, at a cost of $10.00 per toy, being a total of $30.00 extra. Eg two-child membership might borrow one large toy, activity theme box and a small toy plus up to three additional toys. The party pack fee must be paid 2 weeks prior to the additional toys being borrowed.

These additional toys may only be borrowed for a one-week period and will incur a fee of $10.00 per week per toy for each week they are returned late. Contact the president for further information.

PARENT/GUARDIAN REQUIREMENTS

Parents/guardians are responsible for selecting toys appropriate for their child.

Parental supervision of toys whilst in your possession is strongly recommended.

Parents/guardians are responsible for their children whilst at the Toy Library.

DUTY

All members are required to do duty at the Toy Library at least 4 times a year or however many times it is necessary to keep the Toy Library operating. Duty will be allocated in a fair and equitable way among members.

If a member is unable to do duty it is their responsibility to contact the Roster Co-ordinator two weeks prior to duty.

If a member is unable to do duty due to illness, please contact the Roster Co-ordinator as soon as possible.

Failure to attend duty will result in a $20.00 fine and borrowing rights will be withdrawn until the fine is paid to the Toy Library.

Failure to do duty when the roster has been amended 3 times to accommodate your requirements will result in your Toy Library membership being cancelled. If you cannot do duty for extenuating circumstances please advise the Roster Co-ordinator.

RETURN OF TOYS

Toys can only be return to the Toy Library during opening hours – Saturday 9am-12 midday & Tuesday 12.30am – 2.30pm. Members are not permitted to return toys mid-week or outside the opening hours of the Toy Library unless arrangements have been made with Membership Co-ordinator.

All toys must be returned in the presence of a duty or committee member.

FINES

Fines are imposed under the following circumstances:

• Failure to attend duty ($20.00)
• Late return of toys ($10.00 per week - capped at $20)
• Lost pieces (non crucial = $5.00 per piece - capped at $20, crucial = replacement value)
• Broken (by misuse = replacement value)
• Lost/damaged information card ($2.00)
• Lost/damaged container/bag (member required to replace container/bag) Please notify Toy Registrar person prior to replacement for requirements.

Paying a fine

Fines are paid to the member on duty, who will give the borrower a receipt from the receipt book. The member name and number, details of the fine and amount will be written on the receipt.

LATE RETURN OF TOYS

Toys are borrowed for two weeks.

If toys cannot be returned by its due date, the borrower must notify the Membership Co-ordinator to obtain a 1 week extension, without a fine being imposed.

If toys are not returned by the due date (without obtaining an extension) and are only 1 week overdue, the member will be issued a warning if it is the first offence for the calendar year.   Note: Subsequent offences will automatically incur a fine.

If toys are not returned by the due date (without obtaining an extension) and are 2 weeks overdue, the member will automatically incur a fine of $10.00.

If toys are not returned after the 1 week extension the member will incur a fine of $10.00.

Members cannot re-borrow until the fine is paid.

If toys are not returned after a 6 week period, the Toy Library will take legal action to recover the toys.

Overdue toy procedure:

1. 1 week over due. Membership co-ordinator will make contact with member and advise toys are overdue and need to be returned the following Saturday/Tuesday.
2. Failure to return toys the following Saturday/Tuesday after contact made, a letter is sent requesting return of toys and details of late fees. (Toys now 2 weeks overdue).
3. Failure to return toys after receipt of letter, a second letter is sent requesting return of toys, details of late fee and advising of suspension of borrowing privileges until toys are returned and late fees paid. (Toys now 3-4 weeks overdue).
4. Failure to return toys after receipt of 2^nd letter, police will be notified. (6 weeks over due).

Details of any request for an extension of borrowing is noted in the Communications Book and on the Members Borrowing Form.

If a member advises they have requested an extension by phone, the member on duty will check these documents to confirm details.

LOST PIECES

All toys are checked and counted on return. If there is a missing piece, the toy is to be re-borrowed for two weeks to enable pieces to be located (The toy can not be returned as it is incomplete and not suitable for borrowing by other members).   Members are permitted to borrow other toys along with the re-borrowed toy up to their borrowing limit.

If pieces cannot be located:

• If the piece is a non-crucial part to the toy – the member will be fined $5.00 per piece.

If the piece is a crucial part to the toy - the member will be charged with the replacement value of the piece(s) – the value to be determined by the committee at the next scheduled monthly meeting and advised to the member.

If the member finds the piece at a later stage the fine or replacement value will not be refunded.

BROKEN PIECES

We realise that toys will be broken through fair wear and tear. Should a toy break, the borrower should return the toy and all broken pieces. The borrower will be asked to complete a Broken/Damaged Toy form to determine the circumstances surrounding the breakage, and this will be discussed at the next Committee meeting.

An assessment will be made and if the breakage is considered to be other than fair wear and tear, the borrower will be charged for repair or replacement. The age and borrowing history of the toy will be taken into consideration by the Committee when making their decision and the decision of the Committee will be binding.

LOST OR DAMAGED BAGS/CONTAINERS OR INFORMATION CARDS

Most toys are in plastic containers or bags. All pieces are listed on a card with the toy.

If a bag/container/information card is missing the toy is to be re-borrowed for two weeks to enable pieces to be located (The toy can not be returned as it is incomplete and not suitable for borrowing by other members).   Members are permitted to borrow other toys along with the re-borrowed toy up to their borrowing limit.

If a container/bag is lost or damaged the member is to contact the Toy Registrar to discuss prior to arranging replacement. In the case of damaged containers/bags the member should return the damaged container/bag along with the new container/bag only after discussing with Toy Registrar.  If a toy is returned and the information card is lost or damaged, a $2.00 fine is imposed for replacement of the card. 

CLEANING

Baby toys and toys used for messy play must always be washed before returning.

Other toys are to be wiped clean before return. Cleaning materials are available at the toy library to clean toys if needed. Please refer to the toy-cleaning handout.

Should you notice toys or bags/containers that are in need of repair, please report this on return.

ACCIDENT, INCIDENT OR INJURY

In the interests of safety the sliding door is to be closed at all times, to assist in providing a safer environment for children present at the toy library. Parents are responsible for their children at all times while attending the toy library.

In case of an accident, incident or injury please notify the member on duty and complete the accident/incident report form.

Happy borrowing.

Wodonga Toy Library Inc.

Code of conduct

All staff, volunteers and committee members of Wodonga Toy Library Inc are required to observe child safe principles and expectations for appropriate behaviour towards and in the company of children, as noted below.

 All personnel of Wodonga Toy Library Inc responsible for supporting the safety, participation, wellbeing and empowerment of children by: 

• adhering to Wodonga Toy Library Inc child safe policy at all times / upholding Wodonga Toy Library Inc statement of commitment to child safety at all time
• taking all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse
• treating everyone with respect
• listening and responding to the views and concerns of children, particularly if they are telling you that they or another child has been abused and/or are worried about their safety or the safety of another
• promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of children with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds (for example, by having a zero tolerance of discrimination)
• promoting the safety, participation and empowerment of children with a disability (for example, during personal care activities)
• ensuring as far as practicable that adults are not left alone with a child
• reporting any allegations of child abuse to Wodonga Toy Library Inc Child Safety Officer Janita Crowe/leadership, and ensure any allegation to reported to the police or child protection
• reporting any child safety concerns to Wodonga Toy Library Inc Child Safety Officer Janita Crowe / leadership
• if an allegation of child abuse is made, ensure as quickly as possible that the child(ren) are safe

 Staff and volunteers must not: 

• develop any ‘special’ relationships with children that could be seen as favouritism (for example, the offering of gifts or special treatment for specific children)
• exhibit behaviours with children which may be construed as unnecessarily physical (for example inappropriate sitting on laps. Sitting on laps could be appropriate sometime, for example while reading a storybook to a small child in an open plan area)
• put children at risk of abuse (for example, by locking doors)
• engage in open discussions of a mature or adult nature in the presence of children (for example, personal social activities)
• use inappropriate language in the presence of children
• express personal views on cultures, race or sexuality in the presence of children
• discriminate against any child, including because of culture, race, ethnicity or disability
• have any online contact with a child or their family (unless necessary, for example providing families with e- newsletters)
• ignore or disregard any suspected or disclosed child abuse.

 By observing these standards you acknowledge your responsibility to immediately report any breach of this code to

Wodonga Toy Library Inc Child Safety Officer Janita Crowe / leadership.

If you believe a child is at immediate risk of abuse phone 000.

I agree to adhere to this Code of Conduct