This paper traces the history of the toy library, a facility or program created to loan toys to children, parents, child care providers, teachers, and play therapists. Types of toy lending libraries are the community toy library, the supplemental toy library, the cooperative neighborhood toy library, and the mobile toy library. The first toy library appeared in Los Angeles in 1935, but it was not until the 1960s and 70s that the concept of the toy library reemerged. This renewed interest was the result of funding of Head Start programs and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, availability of federal funds for day care centers, and the American Library Association establishing the Toys, Games, and Realia Evaluation Committee. In the 1980s, the Lekotek movement arrived from Sweden; it is a program that provides services to children with special needs and their families in resource and play centers. The USA Toy Library Association (USA/TLA) was formed in 1984. In the 1990s, USA/TLA serves as a national network of parents and professionals who promote play as essential to the healthy development of children. Toy libraries in Ohio are profiled: the Columbus Metropolitan Public Library, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Matthew's Lending Library, and Summit County Toy and Resource Center. Toy libraries in countries outside of the United States (Sweden, Norway, United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands, Australia, Switzerland, France, Russia, Israel, Nigeria, and India) are described. Finally, there are brief biographies of 14 "movers and shakers" in the toy library world. Statistics of U.S. toy lending libraries are appended. (Contains 27 references.) (BEW)