Eileen Braham, Playlink co-ordinator at All Saints' Children's Centre inChatham, Kent, which has a toy library, said, 'Money is an issue foreveryone. People are watching the pennies more as money gets tighter, sothey borrow toys instead.'
Toy libraries, introduced in the UK 41 years ago, may lend out anythingfrom board games and dressing-up outfits to puzzles, construction kitsand arts and crafts materials. As well as enabling children to haveaccess to a wider range of toys than they might have at home, they helpfamilies to save money. Recently libraries have shown a surge inpopularity.
Tim Bearcroft, acting chief executive of the National Association of Toy& Leisure Libraries, said, 'We assume the increasing number of peopleusing toy libraries is down to the current economic crisis.'
Membership of the toy library at All Saints' Children's Centre startsfrom 10. Borrowing individual items may cost from 50p to amaximum of 2.
Ms Braham said, 'I want to show people that by borrowing toys they won'tbe spending lots of money on expensive toys, and this way children getto explore lots of different toys as well.'
Jodie Lynch, who took her daughter to All Saints' toy library, said,'Lily loved looking at the large dolls' house and castle. She wouldreally like one for Christmas, so this gives her the chance to borrowone, play with it at home and see if she likes it before we commit tobuying her a dolls' house of her own.'