While pursuing a doctorate in education at UB Graduate School of Education, Hannah Bogdan responded to a child’s creative idea that eventually led to the creation of the Buffalo Toy Library. While teaching a class, one of the children took toys from the classroom, promising to return them. Seeing this as a great idea, Hannah started allowing kids to check out a toy every weekend. 

In March, Bogdan took that model and officially founded the Buffalo Toy Library, located at 2929 Main St., at the intersection with Hertel Avenue in North Buffalo. “It was important to me as an educator to encourage play in all its forms and make toys accessible to all children, regardless of income level or zip code,” says Bogdan, who also has firsthand knowledge of parenting. She has one young child and is expecting another very soon. 

The toy library is open Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Children and their caregivers can drop in to play, explore, and borrow toys with a three-tiered membership. For a $30 yearly membership, a family can check out two toys for two weeks; for $50, they can check out three toys for four weeks; and for $100, they can check out five toys for four weeks. 

Currently, 87 families have purchased memberships and borrowed over 400 toys, including Ring Stackers, Fisher Price Little People cars, and Hot Wheels. The most popular toy is a pretend ice cream stand.  

For families who cannot afford memberships, Bogdan has secured funding from the M&T Charitable Foundation to provide membership scholarships. For more details about the Buffalo Toy Library, visit www.buffalotoylibrary.org or contact Hannah Bogdan at hannah@buffalotoylibrary.org.