St. Paul council honors Minnesota Toy Library’s first anniversary, adopts resolution

The St. Paul City Council on a unanimous voice vote adopted a resolution recognizing the Minnesota Toy Library’s first anniversary and spotlighting the nonprofit’s East Side branch at Progressive Baptist Church.

Rebecca Nutter, executive director and founder of the Minnesota Toy Library, told the council the organization operates like a book library for play: members may borrow up to five toys at a time, memberships are on a sliding scale (about $40 to $100 annually) and the library offers scholarships for lower-income families. "Our mission is to reduce waste associated with playtime, foster child development, and build a community of members who care about kids and the environment," Nutter said.

Teresa Eisenbys, director of the Northeast location, said the system depends heavily on donations and volunteers and that the network circulates roughly 10,000 toys across three locations. Council members praised the outreach and financial relief the program offers families, noting the library’s potential to expand services and volunteer opportunities in Saint Paul’s East Side neighborhoods.

The resolution (recorded in the agenda as resolution 25-13 07) was moved and approved without opposition. The council encouraged the nonprofit to continue community outreach and noted the city’s interest in supporting programs that reduce waste while increasing access to early-learning materials.