Pete Prodoehl 🍕

I heard about a "Toy Library" which sounds cool! I mean, I run a Free Little Art Gallery and I always love a Little Free Library (of books), but get this...

"Cunillera runs it like a business. Families pay up to $65 per month, and there are scholarships."

Fuck That. It's not a "Library" it's a toy subscription service.

➡️ https://www.npr.org/2025/06/02/nx-s1-5321394/rutabaga-toy-library-lets-families-sign-out-toys-a-month-at-a-time

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Jun 2 at 6:15pmWeb
Show threadPete Prodoehl 🍕Jun 2

At least there are scholarships, and maybe there's variable pricing? But starting a "library" and then trying to "run it like a business" is just wrong.

Run it like a community service.

Take donations, run on the goodwill of the people and support from local businesses... Find a way to make it happen without turning it into a goddamn business.

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Show threadAndrewJun 2
Oof. With the enormous volume of free toys to be found in any big US city it doesn't even have to cost anything. (Aside from the cost of using FB "Buy Nothing" groups.) My spouse picked up giant outdoor playhouses, slides, Duplos, dolls, toy strollers, and more when we were in Chicago. We cycled through many toys this way!
Show threadErikBussink Jun 2
@rasterweb We have those in 🇨🇭. We call them Ludotheques
Show threadPete Prodoehl 🍕Jun 2
@ErikBussink Super cool! I had to translate a Wikipedia article to read it in English but I think it all made sense. ;)
Show threadErikBussink Jun 3
@rasterweb I have some long lost memories of taking #Meccano boxes out of the Ludotheque (Ludo in latin means play) that my parents could not afford all those years ago…
Show threadwow_elec_tronJun 2
@rasterweb in Melbourne, we have council gov funded toy libraries! We pay like $100aud a year and get to borrow a few items for a fortnight :) Ive 3d printed so many repair pieces for them lol