Systems help you track members and protect stock

Online systems are available to help toy libraries and members manage memberships and toy loans, saving time and improving toy tracking. Popular platforms include SeTLS and MiBase, both of which offer Facebook groups for support and shared ideas. Whether to run an annual stocktake depends on how strong your toy checking and maintenance processes are. Libraries with regular assessment systems may only need stocktakes to identify missing toys, while others may use them to review, repair, refresh, or retire stock.

System are now available that make it easy for both the toy library and your members to track their membership and toy borrowing. Smart use of these systems will save you time and ensure you are effectively managing your toys. 

Moving your toy library online 

Recommended online database platforms 

• SeTLS 

• Mibase 

Both of these platforms have a Facebook discussion group for support, issues and ideas.   

• SeTLS 

• Mibase 

Stocktake 

The decision to run an annual stocktake for your library depends on the level of confidence that you have in your processes and systems for checking and assessing toys when they are returned from loan throughout the year. 

If your system is robust, and your staff and volunteers routinely pull toys out of circulation to assess, repair, refresh and either return to shelf or retire and dispose of toys, then an annual stocktake is simply an exercise to see if any toys are missing from your collection. 

If you do not have a session-based assessment and maintenance process, then a stocktake may be beneficial as both a chance to evaluate your collection, but also spruce up less popular toys.