Minnesota Toy Library opens third metro location

The Minnesota Toy Library (MTL) is a toy lending program for families with children ages birth to five years. Members can check-out up to five toys at a time, and take them home for 2-4 weeks. And now, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, there’s a new location on the east side of St. Paul.
The mission of the toy library is three-fold: to reduce waste, promote development, and build community.
Rebecca Nutter is MTL’s executive director. She said, “We started lending toys nine years ago, using public library meeting rooms. When our toy inventory got too big to be mobile, lending events were held in my garage. In 2017, we established our first brick and mortar in South Minneapolis.”

Reduce waste
In the last generation, the state of Minnesota has seen a gradual transformation from a system that manages solid waste – to one that recognizes the complete life cycle of materials. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 80% of toys will end up in landfills or incinerators. This statistic highlights how critical it is to prioritize reduction and reuse strategies.
Nutter explained that the average American family spends $485 annually on toys, most of which will end up in landfills or municipal incinerators. She said, “Through the toy library, families can access an almost unlimited collection of toys for as little as $40/year. Annual membership is on a sliding scale from $40-$100.”
The Minnesota Toy Library is really driven by a commitment to reduce waste. Nutter said, “We are passionate about reusing toys. Many of our toys come from families whose children have outgrown them. The toys are in great shape, and there’s just no reason why they can’t be reused. Children ages birth to five change so quickly that they don’t tend to wear their toys out.”

Promote development
MTL has more than 8,000 toys in their inventory, spread across their South Minneapolis, Northeast Minneapolis, and St. Paul locations. Members can visit any of the three locations. However, because it’s still getting up and running, toys borrowed from the St. Paul location need to be returned there.
Toys come in as donations, are bought second-hand by staff, or sometimes bought new. If the toys are purchased second-hand, they’re inspected for safety and washed thoroughly before becoming part of the community toy box.
Nutter said, “We don’t have a large staff, so we educate our members about how to clean toys before returning them. We follow CDC recommendations, and advocate for green cleaners whenever possible. We encourage the kids to get involved, too; they learn about taking care of the planet by helping to clean their borrowed toys.
“No one likes borrowing a dirty toy. Always set aside time to clean toys well before returning them to the toy library. Wash hands before and after cleaning toys to help keep everybody safe.”
The MTL inventory is separated into these categories: Adapted Toys, Board Games, Blocks, Dramatic Play, Fine Motor, Literacy, Large Motor, Math/Cognitive, Manipulatives, Music, Puzzles, Science/Sensory, Vehicles and more.
There is something for every stage of development in the first five years of a child’s life.

Build community
The toy library offers opportunities for families to connect with each another – supporting their children’s development through play while reducing their impact on the environment. The new St. Paul location is in the lower level of the Progressive Baptist Church at 1505 Burns Avenue. The toy library is open on the first and third week of each month:
• Sunday 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
• Tuesday 5 – 8 p.m.
In addition to borrowing toys, members can also bring the following items to any of the toy library locations for recycling:
• Broken or whole crayons.
• Squeeze pouches: pouches must be empty, clean, and dry and have caps. All brands are accepted.
• Broken Hasbro toys and games.
• Broken Spin Master toys, games, and packaging.
• V-tech and LeapFrog electronic learning devices and electronic toys.
• Barbie®, Fisher-Price®, Matchbox® and MEGA™ toys.
Check out the new space, become a member, and celebrate with the Minnesota Toy Library as they bring reuse and toy lending to St. Paul. Parking is available in the church parking lot. MTC bus routes 3A, 3B, 62 and 67 serve the area. Contact: stpaultoylibrary@gmail.com with any questions about hours, toy inventory, or membership.
New members can join the MTL on their first visit. No proof of income is required to join at any point along the sliding fee schedule.