Considering Tonies® and Yoto Players

Requests for Tonies® and Yoto Players have increased recently, prompting my library to take the plunge and add them to our collection. I’d like to share how we integrated them as well as my thoughts on each.

Adding Them

Our library has been circulating “Family Fun Bags” for years, and they remain incredibly popular. These bags typically include books, games, puzzles, and various toys, all centered around a specific theme. When countless patrons requested screen-free options like Tonies® and Yoto Players, we decided to incorporate them into our collection by creating new Family Fun Bags. Each bag is themed around either Tonies® or Yoto Players and includes figures or cards focused on a specific topic.

Our newest bags, featured in the image below, are “Fun with Tonies – Story Favorites” and “Fun with Yoto Mini – Disney Classics.” They will circulate in protective cases and include a list of contents, a related book, and an activity sheet focused on early literacy activities.

Tonies®

The Toniebox® comes with a single dog figurine loaded with kid-favorite songs. The additional figurines must be purchased separately and range from $10-$20. The popular figurines tend to be on the higher end of that range.

Some libraries choose to catalog each figure separately so they can be checked out individually. We opted to bundle them in kits for ease of cataloging and to accommodate families who don’t own Tonieboxes. If a family were to place holds on both a Toniebox and a figure, there would be no guarantee they’d arrive at the same time. So far, we’ve included five Tonieboxes in our collection, each currently with around 20 holds.

Pro tip: If your library is planning to circulate Tonieboxes®, preload all the figurines onto each Toniebox® before circulation. This step ensures they will work without Wi-Fi, making it easier for patrons to use them without any issues.

The Tonieboxes® are cushioned and designed to withstand heavy use. The figures are adorable and are a hit with younger children. Each kit costs a few hundred dollars but has proven to be well worth the investment so far.

Yoto Mini

Yoto Audio Players come in two sizes: the original and the mini. Both play the same cards, but the mini and its accessories are less expensive, so I purchased the mini players. Individual cards typically cost $10, though popular packs of six are available for $45. I took advantage of Black Friday deals to further reduce the overall cost.

For the same reason we include Tonieboxes® in kits, we are also packaging the Yoto Minis in kits (though we are not yet circulating the Yoto Players). Each Yoto Mini kit will include a protective sleeve and a hard case containing the player, charging cord, and the cards included in the kit.

Make sure to preload all of the cards on each Yoto Plater before circulation so they can be used easily without Wifi.

Yoto Mini or Toniebox®

The Yoto Mini is extremely well-designed, compact, and significantly less expensive—especially if your library plans to start a collection of Yoto cards. Personally, I find both the Toniebox® and Yoto Player equally enjoyable. However, younger children may gravitate toward the adorable Tonie® figures, while the Yoto is more likely to grow with kids, offering cards with chapter books like The Magic Tree House.

Has your library included either of these screen-free options? Check out this post about more screen-free options for your library!

(Image courtesy of K. Caldwell)

The post Considering Tonies® and Yoto Players appeared first on ALSC Blog.

 Requests for Tonies® and Yoto Players have increased recently, prompting my library to take the plunge and add them to our collection. I’d like to share how we integrated them as well as my thoughts on each. Adding Them Our library has been circulating “Family Fun Bags” for years, and they remain incredibly popular. These bags typically include books, games, puzzles, and various toys, all centered around a specific theme. When countless patrons requested screen-free options like Tonies® and Yoto Players, we decided to incorporate them into our collection by creating new Family Fun Bags. Each bag is themed around either Tonies® or Yoto Players and includes figures or cards focused on a specific topic. Our newest bags, featured in the image below, are “Fun with Tonies – Story Favorites” and “Fun with Yoto Mini – Disney Classics.” They will circulate in protective cases and include a list of contents,…
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