By Steve Hubrecht
For young kids, it’s hard to beat the thrill of new toys and new books. And, thanks to a new toy lending library in Invermere, there’s now no end of fascinating new toys, books and other play and learning material that your youngster can access.
The new toy lending library, run by local nonprofit Family Dynamix and the provincial Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR), under the umbrella of the Golden Community Resources Society, is already a big hit with Columbia Valley kids age zero to five and their guardians.
It is operated out of the Family Dynamix Early Years Centre in the group’s office in Frater’s Landing, just below the Circle Cafe.
“We have a lot of great things in the library. We want to be able to share them around the community,” Family Dynamix early years coordinator Merisa Butler told the Pioneer.
The library contains all sorts of toys, plenty of books, early learning activities, literacy kits, and more.
“We do have quite a lot (of toys and books) for a town with a fairly small population,” said Butler, outlining that many of the resources have been passed on to the Invermere location from similar programs in Kelowna and Golden.
The library is free for families with kids age zero to five years old.
Toy sign out, pick up and drop off can be done in person at the Invermere office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. when Family Dynamix runs its drop-in play groups. Toy lending can also be arranged outside those hours by contacting Butler in advance, and it also happens each month at the satellite offices run by Family Dynamix in Canal Flats and in Edgewater. You can also browse the toys and learning material online at www.libib.com/u/columbiavalleyccrr.
“It’s been so well received, way better than I hoped or expected. It is great to see the community embrace the opportunity to use these materials,” said Butler. “I’m very glad to see this program become so well used so quickly.”
Aside from families, the library can be used by the Columbia Valley’s daycare centres, pre-schools and by kindergarten classes.
To find out more visit the Family Dynamix Early Centre Years Facebook page, or contact Butler at [email protected].
