The Toy Library provided by Traveling Toys has been a wonderful addition to Otis library. Children enjoy choosing new toys and many of our patrons have a pattern of borrowing and returning toys each week. Our toy collection spans many interests from building, interactive games, animal figures, musical instruments, pretend play, and more. We have toys for a variety of ages and abilities! Mary and Diana of Traveling Toys were a huge support, helping to select the best toys for our community. We are so pleased to offer both educational and fun options for families. Toys and interactive play are a valuable part of childhood development. It is our mission at Otis Library to promote lifelong learning and the toy library is a part of that.
Bethany Jensen
Head of Children's Services
Otis Library
The Toy Library at the Public Library of New London has quickly become a beloved resource for families in the community. By offering a diverse selection of educational and interactive toys, the library has created a unique space for children to explore, learn, and play. This initiative has not only enhanced early childhood development but also provided an opportunity for families to share resources and experiences. The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for the program's positive impact on their children's learning and creativity.
A key factor in the success of the Toy Library has been the support from Mary and Diana of Traveling Toys. Their guidance and expertise were invaluable throughout the entire process. They were always approachable and willing to help, making the implementation of this program both easy and efficient. Their commitment to the project has played a crucial role in making the Toy Library a success, and their continued support ensures its growth and positive impact on the New London community.
Madhu Bajaj Gupta
Executive Director
The Public Library of New London
Our library partnered with Traveling Toys and now we have a thriving Toy Library in both the Children's Department and the Young Adult Department. As the YA Librarian, I constantly see the impact of the Toy Library on families and young adults. Our board game collection not only helps get people to the library, but I find that they stay at the library longer to play the games as well.
Mary and Diana of Traveling Toys were a delight to work with! They were thorough and helpful throughout the process. I felt supported and they happily answered every question that came up. We are extremely grateful for their impact on our community!
Kait Moseley
Young Adult Librarian
Otis Library
Traveling Toys has provided our library with thoughtful toys for a wide spectrum of children's ages and abilities. The toys they donated inspire imaginative play, learning about our surroundings, appeal to a wide variety of interests, and encourage cooperative play. Toys support the development of fundamental literacy skills (singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing) during early childhood, which are the foundation of all learning. The Toy Library is the perfect complement to other items available in our library.
Mary and Diana of Traveling Toys recognized the importance of toys to children's development, and their idea to establish Toy Libraries in local libraries means that all children in the community have access to quality toys. Additionally, the Toy Library allows families the opportunity to "test drive" toys, gives patrons the ability to borrow toys for young visitors, and allows children to borrow items that interest them.
Mary and Diana have been wonderful partners in the establishment of our Toy Library. They have always been supportive to my needs as an administrator of the Toy Library, and receptive to any ideas I have offered. I cannot imagine how much work they have spent on this thoughtful project and how many lives they have touched with their efforts. Mary and Diana are to be commended for identifying a need in our community and filling it.
Tricia Carlin
Children's Librarian
Westbrook Public Library
Play has been known as having significant effects on the social and emotional development of children and young people. Traveling Toys Inc. not only recognizes the importance of play, they go a step further and make play accessible to all.
I have had the pleasure of working with Mary Didiuk and Diana Caty of Traveling Toys Inc. for the past couple of years. They first approached me in April 2022 with the idea of creating a Toy Library. At first, I thought it was too good to be true. I was happy to discover that both Mary and Diana were genuine in their mission to create collections of toys and games within public libraries. They have been such a joy to work with and their passion to secure funding for these collections is unparalleled.
We unveiled our Toy Library collection in January of 2024. To say it has been a success would be an understatement. First off, our Children's collection of toys has been such a help to families, specifically grandparents. Having toys available to borrow and then return is such an invaluable and well utilized service at our library. Our additional Teen collection of games has also been popular for patrons of all ages. On several occasions I have witnessed teens and their families excitedly browsing the various tabletop games, and happily leaving with an armload. These collections have truly helped to demonstrate how libraries evolve to meet the everchanging needs of the communities they serve. None of this would be possible without the generosity, dedication and hard work of Mary and Diana of Traveling Toys Inc. and for that the Old Saybrook community is immensely grateful!
Emily Sheehan
Assistant Director / Children’s Librarian
Acton Public Library
I have rarely encountered opportunities as rewarding as the partnership we established with Traveling Toys Inc. From our initial introductory phone call to the grand opening of our Toy Libraries for children and teens, the entire journey has been incredibly fulfilling. This is largely thanks to Mary and Diana, who are not only a pleasure to work with, but also have clearly defined their goals and how to achieve them. Their mission is to provide caregivers with access to high-quality, age-appropriate toys that encourage play, thereby fostering the development and creativity of children and adolescents while alleviating the financial strain on families.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes play as essential to childhood development, as it enhances cognitive, social-emotional, and physical growth. Its importance is so profound that the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights has acknowledged play as a fundamental right of every child. Through play, children and adolescents grow and connect, and it also creates an excellent opportunity for caregivers to engage with them. Play serves as a medium for children to express themselves, learn communication skills, and develop the tools they need to navigate the world around them.
In our library, we are committed to making play more accessible for children and their families, and I can confidently say that this achievement is due to the unwavering dedication of Mary and Diana. The Ansonia Library is immensely grateful for the invaluable work they do!
Jen Shuart
Children's Librarian
Ansonia Library
Our small public library partnered with Traveling Toys Inc in the effort to upgrade learning materials in the Children’s Section of the library. Prior to this endeavor, learning materials and toys for children and their families were sparse. Traveling Toys was amazing to work with: their efforts helped us secure grants to funds a Circulating Toy Collection for young children and a Teen Gaming Library for Young Adults. Both collections have been extremely popular with our patrons, especially with in-house use. What I really appreciate from Traveling Toys was their identification of developmental skills associated with each item-this has really helped us market these collections. It also reinforces one of our strategic goals to let youth and their families “learn at the library”. I give this organization my highest endorsement!