The community knows about the toy library

Even well-established toy libraries may have families in their community who don’t know toy libraries exist or aren’t aware of a local service. Using multiple communication methods helps families find, understand, and access your toy library. Clear and consistent promotion builds awareness of who you are, what a toy library is, what you offer, and how to join, while reducing barriers and supporting inclusion.

Effective promotion starts with knowing your community. A simple marketing plan helps coordinate promotion and maintain consistent messaging. It should outline target audiences, key messages, promotion methods, and timing. Promotion can include word of mouth, social media, websites, newsletters, local groups, signage, events, partnerships, and media. Always seek permission before using photos, especially of children.

Even well established toy libraries will have families in their community who have never heard of toy libraries or do not realise one exists locally. Multiple forms of communication are really helpful to ensure families can find, understand, and access toy library services. Community promotion ensures families know who you are, what a toy library is, what services you offer, and how and where to access them. Clear and consistent promotion helps remove barriers to access and supports inclusion.

Effective promotion starts with knowing your community. Refer to QS 1.1 (Understand your local community) to ensure your marketing reflects local needs, languages, access barriers, and preferred communication channels.

Develop a Simple Marketing plan

A marketing plan helps coordinate promotion efforts and ensures consistent messaging. think of it as the step-by-step road map to raising awareness of the toy library.

Toy libraries are encouraged to use a simple marketing plan that includes target audiences, key messages, promotion methods, and timing.

Types of Promotion

• Word of mouth through members, volunteers, and partners

• Social media updates and storytelling in the form of reels/lives/shorts etc

• Website with clear “what we do” and “how to join” info. Make it super easy

• Local online community boards and groups

• Email lists and simple newsletters (SETLS/MiBase/Forms, Mailchimp)

• Flyers, posters, brochures and letterbox drops (print thoughtfully)

• Clear signage and directions

• Community events, pop ups and outreach

• Media, newspapers and community gazettes

• Partnerships, presentations and sponsorships

When using photos, always get permission for those in the photo if your plan is to use it for anything. If you are running and event ......