Contact details

The Toy Library Committee can be contacted via email at mthawthorntoylibrary@gmail.com

 

Toy Library opening hours

Fortnightly Saturday 9am-11am.

 

Communication

The Committee will communicate important information to members by email and via the Mount Hawthorn Toy Library Facebook Members Group. It is essential that members have an email address, check it regularly and notify the Committee if their contact details change.

 

Insurance waiver form

Members must sign a ‘Waiver, release and indemnity to loan bicycles and scooters’ form on joining. Members cannot loan any toys with an RO code until this occurs.

 

Bond

As part of the MHTL joining process new members are asked to pay a bond. This amount is set by the Committee. The bond is currently set at $50. This will be returned to members when membership is ended, provided all toys are returned, fines and outstanding fees have been paid and all roster obligations met (including the annual stocktake or substituted shifts if unable to attend their stocktake shifts). The Committee reserves the right to withhold the bond in order to offset fines for late, missing or broken toys, or failure to participate in rostered shifts and/ or the annual stock take.

 

Borrowing period

Fines apply if toys are returned after the borrowing period expires.

 

The borrowing period for all toys is 4 weeks. Toys may be renewed up to 2 times, unless they have specifically been requested by another member. 

The Toy Library normally closes for 3 weeks over the Christmas/New Year period, on Public Holiday long weekends and over Easter weekend.  Toys due to be returned on these dates may be borrowed for a longer period without overdue fines.

All toys are to be returned by the weekend prior to the annual stock take. No toys can be borrowed over the stocktake time.

Borrowing toys 

Refer to the Borrowing and Returning Guide at the end of this booklet for more information

When borrowing toys, members should count the pieces of each toy to confirm that the number of pieces corresponds with the number and description on the packaging. If not, members should notify the supervisor on duty who will check the computer for previously recorded missing pieces. This is to avoid members being unfairly charged for missing pieces, and it allows computer records to be correctly maintained.

 

Do not write on the toy cards.

 

Returning toys

Please clean all toys before returning them to MHTL. Refer to the Toy Cleaning Guide at the end of this booklet for more details.  If returning a toy that has been in contact with a child’s mouth, please ensure the toy is cleaned with disinfectant before returning it.

When returning toys, members will be asked for their member number and the members on duty will then count the pieces of the toys being returned, and return them to the shelves.

 

Fines

Fines for overdue toys and missing pieces are set at the discretion of the Committee. Any current fines must be paid before new toys are borrowed.

 

Current fines for missing pieces or damage

1. a) Piece that doesn’t alter the use or enjoyment of the toy in any way (e.g. a single generic Duplo brick from a large set, or a single marble from a marble run) – NO FINE
2. b) A significant element of the toy, but without which the toy can still function normally and be enjoyed (e.g. clothing from a Sylvanian animal, a single fence piece from a farm set, a shape from a construction set) - $2 PER ITEM
3. c) An integral element of the toy which compromises the full playability or enjoyment of the toy (e.g. a missing figure or item from a play set, a ball from a drop and roll toy, a specially shaped block from a Duplo set) - $5 PER ITEM
4. d) An element or piece of the toy without which the toy is unusable and would require retirement from the library: 75% of the toy cost for a toy under 12 months old, 50% of toy cost for toy 1-3 years old, 25% of toy cost for all other toys
5. e) Lost toys: Fine as for item d) above

 

Rostered duties

Each member is required to staff one shift per year. The Roster is filled in six-month blocks. Members will receive an email notification twice-yearly to sign up for the next Roster block. We appreciate your prompt action in signing up for the Roster to ensure we have continuous cover. 

 

If rostered for a shift and then unable to attend, members are required to swap shifts with another member and then notify the Committee by email. Shift swaps should be organised via the Facebook Members Group. If members are unsuccessful in arranging a shift swap in this way, they should contact the Committee via email, giving at least 2 weeks’ notice.

Newborn baby roster exemption

Parents expecting a baby are exempted from roster duty for two months before and two months after the birth of their child. Please inform the Committee well before the baby’s due date to facilitate this.

 

Written warnings

It is understood that extenuating circumstances do occasionally arise, however written warnings will be issued for rule breaches concerning unpaid fines, absences from rostered shifts and absences from the annual stock take. If three written warnings are received, the member has not fulfilled their duties to the MHTL, then membership will be cancelled.

 

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

It is expected that all members of the MHTL will attend each AGM. A quorum is required to vote in Committee members and make any major changes. Lack of member support at the AGM puts the continued operation of the Toy Library at risk.

 

Suggestions

Suggestions are always welcomed by the Committee for improving the MHTL, and ideas for new toys are encouraged. Please make suggestions via the Toy Library Facebook Members Group or by emailing the Committee.

 

Leaving the MHTL

The member is kindly asked to notify the Committee in writing of their intention to resign membership, the date, if they can work rosters already signed up for, and if they want to donate their bond. It is appreciated if members terminate membership at the end of a roster block once all shifts are completed, so no gaps are created that other members have to fill.

The member is then asked to return all outstanding toys and pay any outstanding fines. The Treasurer will return the bond to the address on records. This can only be returned if all toys have been returned, rostered shifts have been completed, stock takes have been attended and all fines have been paid.

Memberships cannot be partially refunded if cancelled part-way through the membership year.

 

Exclusion from Liability and Indemnity

To the maximum extent permitted by law, members of MHTL join and use the MHTL and its toys entirely at their own risk. The MHTL is not liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense (including but not limited to, all direct and indirect loss or damage) howsoever arising whether in contract, tort (including negligence), under statute, in common law, in equity or on any other basis, in connection with any member’s membership or use of the MHTL (including its premises) and any of its toys.

Each member must indemnify and hold harm the MHTL and each other member of the MHTL against any personal injury, death, loss or damage to:

1. a) MHTL and/or its members and their family members, co-habitants and invitees: and
2. b) MHTL’s premises and property and the property of MHTL’s members, their family members, co-habitants and invitees.

 

Please note that all children must be adequately supervised whilst on the MHTL premises.

MOUNT HAWTHORN TOY LIBRARY - WAIVER, RELEASE AND

INDEMNITY FOR BICYCLE AND SCOOTERS

The Mount Hawthorn Toy Library ("Provider") is pleased to make bicycles and scooters available to subscribers ("the Service").
As a subscriber to the Service you acknowledge that there are dangers and risks inherent with bicycle and scooter riding (the “Activity”) to which any child under your supervision ("Your Child") may be exposed.
The Provider does not provide protective clothing or bicycle helmets and it is your responsibility to ensure that Your Child wears a helmet at all times and is otherwise appropriately attired when participating in the Activity. You agree that Your Child will participate in the Activity at your own risk. You also agree to voluntarily assume responsibility for supervising the Activity and any injury, death or property damage you or Your Child may suffer or cause as a result of participating in the Activity.
To the maximum extent possible at law, you (both in your personal capacity and on behalf of Your Child) agree to release, hold harmless and indemnify the Provider and its respective officers, employees, servants, agents and contractors (the “Indemnified Persons”) against all actions, claims, suits, costs, expenses, demands and damages suffered or incurred by the Indemnified Persons or any one or more of them by reason of, or in respect of, or in any manner whatsoever arising out of, or caused by, your use of the Service or Your Child's participation in the Activity.
You agree that you are subscribing to the Service on the express condition that the Provider:
(a) will, under no circumstances be liable or responsible in any manner whatsoever for any death, loss, accident, damage or injury to you, Your Child or any of your servants, agents, contractors, visitors or invitees or any other person whatsoever (“Related Party”) which may happen as a result of your use of the Service or Your Child participating in the Activity; and
(b) will not incur or be under any liability whatsoever to you, Your Child, or to any Related Party for any loss, damage or injury to or in respect of any of your property or of any Related Party’s property. The Provider is not liable to you, Your Child or any Related Party in respect of any indirect or consequential loss. For the avoidance of doubt, ‘consequential loss’ means loss or damage arising from a breach of contract, tort (including negligence), under statute or any other basis in law or equity of an indirect or consequential nature including, but without limitation, loss of profits, loss of revenue, loss or denial of opportunity, loss of goodwill, loss of business reputation, future reputation or publicity, damage to credit rating and indirect, remote, abnormal or unforeseeable loss, or any similar loss whether or not in the reasonable contemplation of the parties.