Community steps in to save toy library

The Lyttelton Toy Library has changed hands and is negotiating for new premises, just a month after being on the brink of closure.

The toy library has long been a resource for the Lyttelton community, originally operating from the former Plunket building on Sumner Rd.

The building was demolished in 2012 after being badly damaged in the earthquakes.

Project Lyttelton – a non-profit organisation focused on strengthening the community – then took over the library.

Since then, it has operated from the Lyttelton Recreation Centre, a garage beneath the Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board room, and most recently the Unity Chapel.

The organisation announced on March 21 it would close the library because of a lack of funding and volunteers, along with a declining number of children in Lyttelton. A final toy clear-out sale was advertised for April 11.

Lyttelton subdivision community board member Jillian Frater contacted the organisers after becoming concerned the community resource was being sold off and wanting to see what could be done to save it.

Fellow Lyttelton resident Helen Tulett also got in touch with similar concerns. The pair were introduced and decided to try to rescue the library.

“We both agreed that it was something good to keep in the community,” Frater said.

“It feels good that we did stop the sale from going ahead. Now it’s finding out how we can function in the future.”

Half the toys are currently stored at the chapel, with the other half underneath the community boardroom. The toys need to be moved out by May 22.

The new organisers are in discussions with multiple parties about a building to operate from.

Before reopening, Frater said they wanted to survey the community about what kinds of toys they wanted, preferred opening hours and possible operating models.