Love the community at the Toybrary! Liza is an amazing and warm person. It is a fun place to be.

Such a fun and safe place for toddlers! Indoor and outdoor fun for all young ages. So many fun toys that keeps my busy 15 month old busy for hours. They offer many classes and even breaks for Mom (like drop off options and even a masseuse on location on most Wednesday's- which made my day!) we love to have play dates here and it a great place to meet other families. We love the Toybrary!! read more

An amazing concept, in a comfortable parent-friendly space! The environment is so inviting to kids and adults; it is a great way to spend time with your child and let them explore new things. Also, they have great events -- all found on their website (http://toybraryaustin.com) read more

I have been bringing my daughter to the Toybrary for more than one year. She is now 26 months. She loves to play with the variety of toys! I mostly go there for free playtime but have also attended a few organized activities for kids. Ms Liza is very friendly and helpful! I highly recommend it! It is also a comfortable place to BF my little baby. read more

This place is the one stop shop for keeping kids entertained! The toys are unique, enticing, and engaging. The store is clean and well-kept. Our favorite part is the cool shows, kid-friendly entertainers, and fun classes that are featured here. The owner Liza is very helpful and gracious. Take your kids here now and your kids will have a blast!! read more

This place is okay. They have a ton of toys but how long can a kid play with toys before getting bored and wanting to run around and really play. Our first visit we walked in and the lady at the desk just stared at us without saying anything. So I told her it was our first visit and she said okay $7. She pointed to where there were rooms to play in and basically that was it. It was so cluttered I could barely walk through and around the place, my kid tripped over a few toys while trying to get around. Basically this place is exactly what it says, just a toy place but my kid more wild and active so she only last 30 minutes before wanting to leave. read more

Fun to stay and play, but DO NOT leave your kid here for the drop in care unless they are older (like 6 years and up) and very independent. On more than one occasion I've seen the owner literally sit at her computer FOR HOURS without paying any attention to the kids left in her care. She seems to have personal favorites who tend to be older and doesn't check in with the younger kids much at all. I've seen parents (myself included) there with their children letting her know that a toddler had a smelly diaper, or needed a hug, seemed hungry, etc. She'll change the diaper, set out their snack and then go back to her computer. It's genuinely sad when it's a pre-verbal toddler just puttering around looking lost. I was excited to try the parents night out sometime, but I won't after seeing repeated incidents of borderline neglect. I saw a toddler coughing a lot while eating, I kept a close eye to make sure that the baby didn't choke. The owner didn't even get up to check on her. Stay and play, toy rental, sure. It's fun, and I like supporting local businesses. But this gal has no business providing childcare as long as her laptop is working. Edit: After reading the owner's many sniping responses to negative reviews, let me add that since I basically babysat both of the kids in her care for her on Tuesday afternoon, I remember their names and would be happy to provide them to her and refresh her memory. Never going back. read more

I have never met such a rude business owner in my life, especially someone who is supposed to be kid friendly. When I took our toys back today I let her know that we would not be renewing our contract as she requires a 30 day notice (if not she automatically renews your contract. Something to be aware of.) she very rudely informed me that it was too bad if I wanted out, I was in a contract. Clearly she didn't listen to the word *renew* and I had to point out her own 30 day notice policy. The entire place is very dirty every time we go. I always clean and sanitize the toys we check out before giving them to my son because I don't trust that this actually gets done by her. Today she came up to me in front of other moms to ask me to clean the toy bags we returned because they were dirty. She literally told me to go to the back and gets rags from under the sink and clean them! As soon as we get home from checking out toys I take the toys out and put the bags away so they don't get lost so I know for a fact the bags were dirty already when we got them. I don't pay $35 a month to be treated like a cleaning lady and talked down to in front of others. This lady doesn't care a bit about customer service or creating a good experience for your kids. Once she gets your money she will become disgustingly rude. Stay far away!!! In response to the owners response: 1. I don't even have pets, more proof the bags were dirty in the first place. 2. There are NUMEROUS other reviews on here that say the same 2 things. The owner is rude. The place is dirty. 3. I let my moms group know about this and here are just a few of the many responses I got. "it's funny you say how dirty it is because I could of sworn that's where our daughter got HF&M!" "Yikes!!! I didn't want to bad mouth the place because I love this "toybrary" concept, but even I think it's really grimy there...I gave Khoi a bath right after he played there for an hour and it was the first time he's ever turned the water dark grey AND left a ring around the tub!! I guess the floor is bound to be that dirty since it's not a shoe free zone." "I've heard she is not the nicest person & can be very rude. Sorry you had a bad experience :( you'd think someone with that biz would be super fun & caring!" "I love the idea of a toybrary (local business, lady owned) and wanted to join but saw quite a few reviews with similar stories to yours and got scared off. Wish there was another option in town ..." Anyone else see a theme?! Maybe you should stop making excuses in all of your responses to these negative reviews and just apologize. So much for caring about the customers who pay your bills... read more

I visited Toybrary Austin for the first time today and I thought it was SUPER! The toys were amazing, the atmosphere was great, the entire place was clean, the space was welcoming, bright and very comfortable. The playground in the back is shaded and so cute with more options for the kiddos. We spent an hour inside and an hour outside. The price to play with new toys and then play on a shaded playground so worth the money. The owner was such a pleasure to talk with and very friendly! I love this place and will be back often!! read more

I went in this morning for a toddler class. The women at the front door who I assume was the owner was not friendly. I asked if I could pay her for the class, and she told me I'd have to get with the lady ( in charge of the class) and pointed. The lady hosting the event said we could pay at the front. So after the class I walked up front and the lady at her computer was eating a pizza and holding a child. She took my card ( with her pizza fingers) I just thought that was odd. I've never been to a business where that's happened very strange. My daughter loved the place, but we won't be back. read more

What a great find!! I have 2 children 2 & under so finding something that engages both of them is rare. Shelby loves all the different toys and all the kids she gets to meet. There is almost always other playmates around. We are always warmly greeted by Liza, she engages with Shelby and always has a snuggle for the baby. The toybrary has toys for up to 6 years old and Shelby explores every one! I LOVE the fact that most of the toys are wooden or made of something other than yucky plastic! Liza is a wonderful ally to fellow women business owners. There is always something on display from a local mama. She hosts several classes a week including tot yoga, art and learning a different language. We love to come here just to play! Hopefully we will see you soon! read more

I LOVE the Toybrary! Great place for kids to play and explore. I love the outdoor play area and garden, too! Best of all, your kiddos can check out toys and when they want to try something new you aren't left with all the misfit toys cluttering up your living room. Every week there are fun family events: story time, sing alongs, Hello Kitty and Elmo stop by too! I highly recommend Toybrary for families looking to simplify and de-clutter by checking out and rotating toys vs. buying them. The quality of toys here is also amazing-no plastic junk! Just well made, earth friendly toys that will keep your baby and toddler's attention! read more

We absolutely love the Toybrary. Not only is a great for the kids to play, the toy selection is superb. Liza has created a space for moms and kids alike to connect, play and learn. The Toybrary hosts many type of classes for parent and kids. I have even been able to get a little computer work done while my kids play. I highly recommend trying it out! read more

This place is dreadful. The new location is worse than the old one.... it just feels dark, dirty, crowded, sticky, sad & full of negative energy. Paw Patrol character Chase was scheduled for 10:30, after waiting over an hour (he was apparently still on his way) we had to leave. I understand things happen, life happens... but the overall tone & vibe of this place just gives me the creeps- we won't be back. We agree with many other reviewers- the owner is awful & a little crazy Save your money & go somewhere else Like Little Land Play Gym up 183! Incredibly clean, fun, open, with bright happy kids & people. read more

A nanny paradise! I love taking my nanny kids here. They always ask to go and love picking out toys to bring home. We often have nanny meet ups here and even had our National Nanny Play Date here a couple weeks ago! (yes that's a thing!) Liza is always friendly when we come by, says hi, is available if we have any questions about the toys to borrow. They have SO MANY TOYS to choose from for all ages and levels of development. Everything is organized and clean. Liza often goes around with a soft noise vacuum (which I also use on occasion when my nanny kids are being messy with snacks) they have a diaper changing station with sample diapers and wipes in case you forgot yours. The outdoor area is lots of fun with sensory boards, a little fun house, sand box and learning garden. They are always having fun events. We have done the African music class, pizza party and various other scheduled activities. This is just a perfect place for getting out of the hot weather and letting your kiddos explore! read more

We love Toybrary! My son has a great time playing here before we pick out his 3 toys to borrow. There are so many different kinds of toys to play with so he never gets bored. The toys are also always in good condition. Plus if you are not a member, $5 to play as long as you want is fantastic! The new location is great! It has a lot of space and even and outdoor play area. I have seen some other reviews and you have to expect that balls outside will be dirty. When you go to an outdoor playground it will be dirty because it's outside. Just have your kid wash their hands when they are done playing outside. I have always found the toys here to be in good condition. If you are worried about a mess then clean up after your children to help keep this place nice! The more people that show up during the day means things will get a little messy. These are babies and toddlers we are talking about. There is only so much cleanup that can happen before everyone goes home at the end of the day. Help out by cleaning up after your kid and enjoy all the fun Toybrary has to offer! read more

This is one of the unfriendliest customer service experiences I have ever had and the irony is what this establishment provides as a service. Due to a move out of Austin we stopped visiting the establishment as of November of last year. Since we were on a contract that ended in December we first tried to request that we be allowed to break sooner due to these circumstances. The owner Liza very curtly denied the request. Fast forward to he current time and we noticed we got charged for January as well. When I called she informed me that per the contract it states that after the expiration of the contract term the $ keeps getting debited from our account unless we cancel. I again, made a request to her to provide basic customer service and allow a reversal of the fee(as this is now the 2nd month we were charged for without having used her facility). Again, she was very cold and unfriendly and denied my request without any sort of "sorry I can't do that" or any such tone. I am in the service industry myself and really amazed this woman is still in business. Glad that we no longer are members though. read more

My kids LOVE Toybrary! They could literally play there all day long and be happy. My kids often ask when we are going back to Toybrary. It's not just the toys though, we also love Toybrary because it is clean and bright! The floors are SPOTLESS...Which is amazing considering all the little feet pattering on it all day! Everyone takes their shoes off when they go in now. Besides the environment and toys, it's also great because sometimes a mom just needs a break to chill. read more

I absolutely love Toybrary. I came here for the first time last week and am so excited that it's in my neighborhood. For just $5, you can enjoy a beautiful, clean and inspiring place to play and burn some energy. There's a big playroom with lots of toys, a dance area, and my favorite spot was the covered patio in the back. There are bikes, wagons and toys to play with outside, too. I loved sitting on the patio watching my child run wild. I enjoyed the time so much that I decided to book my daughter's first birthday party there. We have a rainy weekend coming up, and it's likely going to rain out our originally planned park park. Liza responded right away, answering my many questions, and booked us for a party. I love the Toybrary and will be a regular here! read more

We went here for the first time last week for a Teddy Bear Picnic. It wasn't the best organized event (the lady who was doing the story time part was actually late!!!) but it was ok. I met a couple nice moms and my baby was able to play with some new friends. I'll probably try another event here sometime to see if it goes better. The concept of this place is great - a library of toys! Membership is kind of expensive, though. read more

A dream come true! As a stay-at-home mom and former nanny, I believe I have a good read on great places for kids. I have been a regular at play places across Chicago, so when we moved to Austin, I was floored when I found this place. It's is both better and less expensive than the ones I've frequented. I believe it won't be long until the owner expands (or franchises) to more locations, because every community needs a place like this. Don't forget to check out the back outdoor space! read more

My kids have grown up at the Toybrary (old location and now new location). They love checking out toys and chatting with Liza, the owner, who is very sweet. Many of the toys are wooden and/or "low-tech." It is a wonderful place to let toddlers explore close by, while you relax and watch or join them at their play. There are also some sweet little low-cost classes for younger children. We are lucky to have this play place and toy lending library in our north-central community! read more

I just love coming to Toybrary. And their new space is even better with the playspace out back. There is always such a fun assortment of unique toys and kids clothing for sale too. So, it's my go-to place for baby showers and birthdays. And if you haven't been there for the petting zoo events you are missing out. So much fun! read more

We LOVE Toybrary! We are incredibly pleased with the new location and we love the back play area. It's such a great place to come chill anytime but it's especially great in the summer when you can't go to the park. She's got great toys to play with and to rent. We just love the place. read more

Oh my goodness!! I just went into the Toybrary this week and it was amazing! What a fantastic idea....to "check-out" toys like a library book for a couple weeks. The kids get tired of them after that long (or sooner) anyway, right? They just end up laying all over the house--time to take them back to check out new ones and for a minimum membership fee. Fantastic idea, wish I'd thought of it instead of spending a jillion dollars on toys!!!! Go get 'em all you budget conscious Austinite parents! Way to go Toybrary genius!! Wow! read more

We love the Toybrary! I was so sick of all the junk we were collecting. It's so much better being able to return toys that my child gets bored with so that we can check out new ones! I do appreciate the new space too. Much better than the last. We like it so much we drive a half hour every week to play and check out new toys. read more

Toybrary is a wonderful place for children and parents. It is a toy library where children are free to roam and play with a wide variety of toys for a nominal fee. A great way to 'try before you buy'! There is even a lovely, shaded, colorful outdoor play space. You can also pay a monthly rate to borrow toys and return them when the children want something new. Their new location is lovely and offers piano and ballet classes. And don't forget about Toybrary for birthday parties. What a wonderful place for parents and children alike! read more

I was so excited when I found out the Toybrary was opening in my area of town. At first I wasn't sure how much use we would get from it because my kids are 4 & 6, but wanted to check it out anyway. SOOO glad we did! My kiddos found plenty to explore and keep them busy in the store. And plenty of toys they wanted to check out that have kept their attention at home. One thing I didn't anticipate was all of the great events the Toybrary would be hosting! We have really enjoyed the face painting, balloon artists and arts & crafts events. They are low-cost and varied. I also appreciate that you can pick and choose events to go to, without having to invest in a series. I went to the Mommy Mixer and really enjoyed that event, too. Met some cool moms and saw some clever and creative kid stuff. Liza is warm and friendly and my kids flock to her. i appreciate her casual style and easy-going vibe. The fact that she has free coffee and comfortable chairs and also has healthy snacks for sale is just icing on the cake! I can't say enough good stuff about this place - I heart the Toybrary!! read more

My 4 year old is obsessed with Toybrary. I use it for drop in care and for the Saturday night date night. I literally cannot say the word "Toybrary" because he wants to go immediately. Love this place!! read more

Great place to have a birthday party. This places is great for Toddlers and all their little friends!

The first weekend with my foster children who are toddlers age 18 mo & 2yo we came to the toybrary. As a former preschool teacher I completely fell in love with this place! It is packed full of the most wonderful, developmentally appropriate activities/opportunities for young children. I love open ended play and child directed play but it can be so difficult to make that a reality in the real world. But not at the toybrary. The first several visits we didn't even borrow toys as my little ones were so happy just to visit several times a week. That alone makes the monthly membership cost worth it. It's also low stress on me- I don't have to supervise like a hawk because it is a safe environment and Liza the owner is so wonderful and laid back that it's infectious. Lastly, my 18 mo foster son came to me with many many developmental delays. However, just a couple weeks ago (and only after 5-6 weeks in my care) he was evaluated and scored on target for his developmental age in all areas. I give the environment and opportunities the toybrary has provided a lot of credit for this. I would encourage all parents in Austin to take advantage of this incredible place we have available in our city. read more

The WORST customer service and management in Austin. I've seen McDonald's employees care more about what customers think!

They advertised paw patrol characters at 1030. We finally left at 1130 when they were still supposedly "on the way." $30 for nothing. Super crowded. Would never return. read more

Toybrary has wonderful selection of new and interesting toys that even my now 6 year old just can't get enough of! We love going to toybrary and always end up leaving with our new favorite toy and usually some new friends too! read more

This place is not worth the cost. I was interested in a membership when I thought it was a set amount for the whole year, not a monthly deduction. After I decided against it, the owner stopped talking to me, nor was she very helpful when I asked her a few questions. My son got hurt a few times there, on the concrete floor (there is no padding or rugs) and she was so enthralled with what looked like the child of a close friend she didn't even acknowledge it. Maybe she was being spiteful because we didn't buy a membership because she also didn't say goodbye.. Also the toys are so-so. My son was bored quickly and the options for checkout look limited, mangy and not super exciting. I wouldn't spend my money here unless you are desperate for things to do. read more

When I walked in I thought this was a very charming place and I was excited to let my 1 year old start exploring. She seemed to enjoy all the visually stimulating decorations and eventually began engaging with the toys. For staying and playing I felt like $5 was definitely reasonable. However, I was disappointed to learn that you can't check out toys without a membership, which is $40/month. At almost $500 dollars per year (is this a gym or a spa??), I'm not sure how that would keep my wallet "happy"? I do understand that the toys are on the more expensive end, but this particular mama would not typically be spending anywhere near $500 a year on toys. So for me personally, I don't see this as a money saver. I've considered coming back for stay and play periodically, but I'm not sure if that would be worthwhile either, since a large chunk of the toys are reserved for members only (the first thing the owner said when we walked in was that we couldn't play with the check-out toys in the bags). So after one visit, even though it was a fun visit, I'm pretty sure we've already played with most of the toys scattered around the play area. In the end, this turned out to be just something fun to try once (which is why I'm giving it 3 stars instead of 2). read more

I have a membership and it's been ok. The Pros: 1. Lots of toys to play with when at the store. 2. Lots of toys to rent and EASY renting system. 3. Fun bin of costumes to dress up with. My daughter loves it. 4. Art classes, Parent Night Out, and other organized activities. The Cons: 1. The owner is not chatty. She is busy working AND it's hard being a small biz owner so I get that! I think it would be great if someone else handled the front desk who seems to enjoy interacting with customers and children (and maybe this is the plan down the road). 2. Paying for Kuerig coffee. I have 2 kids, so if I didn't have a membership and was paying $10 to come and play, I think a cup of coffee could be included. 3. It feels small if it's crowded. If there are more than 10 kids, the kids are stumbling all over each other and there is no place to 'play' (ride bikes, push the toys around, set up the tunnels). 4. Best for baby-2yrs. My 3 yr old destroys the place and only wants to play with the 'for rent' toys. I wish they were blocked off better so they weren't out in the open to tease her. There is a small room that would be better suited for the 'for rent' toys. 5. It can get HOT inside. The window faces the afternoon sun. None of this is a big deal, so I do recommend you check the Toybrary out and judge for yourself. I love the concept overall and with some slight improvements think it could be even better. read more

I can't say enough about Toybrary Austin. The owner, Liza, is so knowledgeable about children's development and play, and it is so obvious if you get the chance to chat with her just how passionate she is about what she does! I have a ten-month-old son, and I've enjoyed taking him to the Toybrary to play with high-quality toys that inspire imagination, socialize with other children in a safe environment, as well as to attend the wide variety of spectacular events they have going on EVERY week--and events for only $10! For the quality of play and opportunities available to children, it is the best way to provide learning experiences for your child, have fun meeting other local parents, and all while bonding with your child. Not to mention, how budget friendly it is! I can't wait until my son is a wee bit older so that my husband and I can take advantage of the Saturday night sitting service! If you haven't checked it out yet, I promise you, you won't be disappointed, but wondered why it has taken you this long to discover this Austin gem! As a former teacher and believer in hands-on play, I highly recommend Toybrary Austin! read more