Despite having been present in Quebec for around fifty years, toy libraries consider themselves to be lacking in notoriety. These toy libraries believe that they benefit from being known for their economic, eco-responsible and social benefits.
More than 2000 games for all ages, mostly purchased new, wait patiently in the premises of the Joujouthèque Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, rue de Rouen. A subscription of $30 per year allows a family to borrow one for all their children, as long as they return them within the prescribed time frame, like in a library. This amount also allows access to other services from Maison à petits pas, the community organization that oversees it, such as social activities, workshops and training.
“Children will often play for two or three months with a toy that we paid $50 for, then it will drag on. Our service prevents parents from always spending money on new toys, emphasizes general manager Yves Dion. We are not just a loan service. People can also come and play on site. »
The play area is notably made up of small tables and chairs, colorful rugs, dolls and wooden modules. The walls are lined with games separated into various categories, from puzzles to board games, including characters to animate. There is also a section for young people with special challenges, such as autism, attention deficit disorder and developmental language disorder.
“These games are very expensive. Not everyone can afford that,” says Mr. Dion.
Toy librarians are available to advise parents and children on finding the right game according to their needs.
There are around forty toy libraries, also called toy libraries, in the province, according to a census carried out by the magazine Protect yourself in 2020. They operate according to several models, but they all have the mission of promoting the development of children through games. Some are run by volunteers, while others are formal community organizations. Among the latter is the Joujouthèque Saint-Michel, which has four service points to serve this large district. Their membership card costs $5.
“Our toy library is a gateway to our various services,” reports director Isabelle Tremblay.
Its clientele, 90% immigrant, saw an increase of 32% during the last financial year. Its events aim in particular to create bonds of mutual aid and friendship between participants.
An economic need
Mme Tremblay notes the effects of the increase in the cost of living in the last year. “We talk about no longer being able to dress our children for winter, no longer being able to buy games, because we take our money strictly for basic needs,” she says.
Despite this increase in needs, toy library managers have the impression of being unknown to a large part of the population.
“We’ve been here since 1987 and yet, when I talk about it, there are still people who tell me that they didn’t know about it,” says Audrey Renaud, general director of the Joujouthèque Farfouille, in Joliette.
This Lanaudière organization, which makes more than 5,000 toys available to its 350 members, would like to help even more families. For the past two years, he has been leading a visibility campaign, including an advertisement on a bus and a promotional video in a cinema.
The idea of a grouping
Mme Renaud intends to work on creating a group of toy libraries in order to pool their strengths. Yves Dion also has this ambition. He emphasizes that in Europe, the network of game libraries is organized. The profession of game librarian is recognized and it often falls within the civil service.
“We could work with the cities, the district libraries,” he says.
The Joujouthèque Basse-Ville, in Quebec, must also move in March to the newly renovated and enlarged Gabrielle-Roy library. “This is great news. We will perhaps reach families a little more widely,” rejoices the administration and development coordinator, Véronique Vachon.
Mme Vachon, who is also concerned about the consumption of plastic that comes with the purchase of toys, believes that the population would benefit from the concept being more widespread. “In shopping centers, there are mountains of beautiful games. There are so many possibilities to explore, to touch, she emphasizes. Collectivizing this is really a win-win solution for everyone. »