FAQS

  • We are building a free, donation-based community resource. At this time:

    • There is no membership fee

    • All staff time is volunteer-supported

    In the future, we may explore grants, donations, small rental fees, or membership dues to help cover operating costs and keep the program sustainable.

  • Anyone living in North Brooklyn can become a member. We have toys recommended for ages 0-8 years old.

  • We ask that toys be returned in the condition in which they were received. This means that you may need to wipe down or wash the toy before returning it.

    We understand that normal wear and tear happens — pieces can get lost and toys can break. While not required, we appreciate members considering a donation to help cover the cost of a damaged item.

  • The North Brooklyn Community Toybrary is located in a private residence. Pickup/dropoff is approximately Manhattan Avenue and Calyer Street in Greenpoint. Members will receive more information upon making their first toy reservation.

  • We hope to be up and running by spring/summer 2026. We are currently collecting and cataloging toys and spreading the word!

  • We hope so! Toybraries are wonderful community resources that are successfully serving kids in other cities and even in other parts of NYC. We think North Brooklyn is a great place to try to make this work!

  • Yes! We are currently soliciting toy donations from the neighborhood. However, we are currently in a pilot phase and are operating out of a private home. As such, toy donations are being accepted on a limited basis. We are especially looking for high quality, battery-free toys without a large space footprint. As demand grows, we will prioritize sourcing toys that are most in demand. Email us (nbktoybrary@gmail.com) or send a message to learn if your previously loved toy is right for our library!

Meet the Founder

North Brooklyn Community Toybrary (NBK Toybrary) founder, Lael Goodman, has lived and worked in the neighborhood for a decade. As an environmental professional, she’s been both delighted and alarmed by the sheer volume of children’s items circulating through local swaps, left on stoops, and offered for free throughout the community. As a parent, she knows how important the right tools and toys are — not only for learning and development but also for keeping kids engaged.

The idea for NBK Toybrary grew out of her own effort to reduce the environmental and financial impact of raising children while creating a stimulating home environment. But sourcing secondhand items is time-intensive and thus a privilege. She envisions the NBK Toybrary as a way for families to share in North Brooklyn’s abundant resources, strengthen community connections, and significantly reduce the waste generated by constantly outgrown toys.

Lael has long been active in neighborhood environmental work. Through her role at the nonprofit North Brooklyn Neighbors and her volunteer service with the Meeker Avenue Plume Community Advisory Group, she has advocated for improvements in air and soil quality, waste reduction, and toxics reform. She also helped to envision the tool library at the Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education Center. A passionate believer in the sharing economy, she’s excited to grow the NBK Toybrary into a vibrant community resource.