Gateshead's Toy Library is a community resource to improve play facilities for children and families in Gateshead.

It provides a loaning service of toys and equipment and will provide a dedicated space for children and families with skilled staff on hand for information and advice.

All of the Toy Library staff are dedicated to helping children access a wide variety of high quality toys which suit all ages and abilities. This will help them develop vital skills such as communication, language & literacy, physical and mental challenges. In addition to this, the library provides support for parents and carers in discovering the appropriate toys and play activities for their children and to understand the role of play in child development.

As part of the Toy Library service, we offer an outreach service across the whole of the Gateshead. Each Children's Centre in the borough is visited on a four-weekly basis and all of the library services such as joining, loaning and returning toys are available at this time. If you would like more details about when we are next coming to your centre then please get in touch. If you would like to reserve any items to be brought along to this outreach session then please look through the catalogues and email us your requests.

The library is open at Chowdene Children's Centre from 9:00-16:30 Monday-Thursday, and 9:00-12:30 on Fridays. If you cannot access the service during these times then please get in touch and we'll do our best to find a convenient time for you to pick up items.

The Toy Library is available for parents and carers, childminders, out of school clubs, parent & toddler groups, nurseries, schools and other services and organisations. For more details about joining the library please have a look at the membership page of this site or get in touch with one of the members of staff.