READING’S Toy Library has re-opened in its new location at Palmer Park Leisure Centre and Stadium this week.
On Wednesday, March 18, the service once again began offering families the chance borrow age‑appropriate toys for toddlers and children for free.
As part of Reading Borough Council’s library service, the Toy Library offers a range of fun and educational toys, games, puzzles, dressing up clothes and sensory resources suitable for babies, toddlers, and young children.
The aim of the service is to support childhood development while at the same time reducing the financial pressures felt by families when buying new toys.
Toys can be reserved in person or online, and most toys can be collected from any of the Reading library branches.
However large toys must be collected from Palmer Park Leisure Centre and Stadium during Toy Library opening hours.
The Toy Library is staffed by tutors and SEND students from Reading College and University Centre, providing important work experience for students to learn new skills to help them get workplace-ready.
Reading Borough Council first launched the Toy Library in 2003 at Southcote Library before moving to Central Library in 2018.
The relocation to Palmer Park Leisure Centre and Stadium has been brought in collaboration with the council’s leisure partner Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL).
Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Lead Councillor for Leisure and Culture, said: “We are incredibly proud of the Reading Toy Library, an initiative that reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting families and giving every child in Reading the best possible start in life.
“By offering high‑quality toys that encourage learning and creativity, at no cost to borrow, we’re making play more accessible and sustainable for our community.
“I look forward to seeing families make the most of this fantastic resource in the Council’s popular new Palmer Park Leisure Centre and Stadium.
“This location is served by multiple bus routes and has car parking on site, which will make it easier for families to borrow and return the larger toys that can’t be borrowed via our main library network.”
Elle Stear, LLD/D Lecturer at Activate Learning said: “We’re really excited to be working with Reading Borough Council and the Toy Library.
“We’re looking forward to getting started and meeting new customers–it’s a great opportunity for SEND students from Reading College and University Centre to get some work experience and learn new skills to get them ready for the workplace.”
