Sling safety:

Using a sling on loan from the library safely is entirely the responsibility or anyone wearing the sling while you are handling it. This means it is any sling handler’s responsibility to ensure they have both the knowledge and the skills to keep themselves and anyone in their care or around them safe during wear. We are here to support this process, answer questions, provide fit checks as requested etc, so please do talk to us if you have absolutely any concerns or queries as your safety and that of any children being carried is paramount. That being said, we do not take responsibility for any accident that may occur while the sling is in your possession or being handled by you for any purpose. As part of this, it is any hirer’s responsibility to:

·        Ensure slings are stored away from anywhere where they could pose a trip or strangulation hazard.

·        Ensure that any child in a sling is fully supported with visible and open airways (speak to us if you are at all unsure how to do this)

·        Ensure any child in a sling could not slip out sideways

·        Ensure any child in a sling could not slump into the sling or become trapped in extra fabric or pushed into the wearer’s clothes or body

Care for slings or associated hired stock:

Slings are often made of natural material that more easily absorbs scents, warps or gets damaged by extremes of heat or chemicals.

Please do not smoke (including vaping) in a carrier or sling belonging to the library.

Please wait at least 15 minutes after applying any body spray before using any of our stock.

As much as possible, please store slings away from strong odours or places where liquids or crumbs could easily get into the fabric.

Washing the sling or carrier:

Do not attempt to wash any of our slings or carriers without reading all this first!! If you want to talk it through, please do get in touch as we will be happy to help you do this safely. If the sling or carrier needs washing, please first try gently sponging the area with cold water without spreading any stain. Please do not rub the fabric. If this does not work, it is only ever ok to wash a carrier in this way: using ASDA ‘delicates’ wash liquid (£2 in most ASDA stores), on a ‘handwash’ setting in a washing machine, making sure to put the carrier inside a clean pillow case before washing, or handwashed in a sink but not soaking for more than an hour total (handwash by soaking in cold water with a full cap of ASDA ‘delicates’ laundry liquid for 15 minutes, rinse and squeeze out without stretching, soak in clean cold water, rinse and squeeze again and keep rinsing until all soap bubbles gone. Squeeze out and hang to dry. Do not stretch the fabric). Fabric must not be spun dry but hung evenly (not over any corners, so it doesn’t get stretched out of shape) to air dry.

Payment for sling or carrier hire:

Payment for sling or carrier hire will consist of 3 stages:

Stage 1: Deposit:

A deposit of £15, £25 or £50 (depending on the type of sling being hired and it’s re-purchase cost) will be payable before the start of any hire period and paid back in full by bank transfer to the hirer within a week of timely return of the hired item in good condition. If a further hire is arranged which requires a cheaper deposit, any excess from the initial deposit will be refunded unless the person hiring would prefer it was held in case of hiring a more expensive carrier or sling at a later date. Likewise, if a person requests to hire a sling with a higher deposit requirement or multiple slings, an increase in the deposit will be required beforehand.

Stage 2: Hire fees:

These may also vary by the type of sling. Fees for the duration of the hire period are payable before the sling is issued. Hires may be extended by agreement - please get in touch ahead of time to arrange this so we can keep track of stock and arrange the best price for your extended hire. The sling library reserves the right to refuse to extend a hire period for any reason.

Stage 3: Return of the hired stock:

At the end of hire, a full inspection will be carried out by the sling library and the deposit refunded in full if the hired item is in good condition. Please contact us straight away if any damage or loss takes place so we can resolve it in the most timely and cost effective way possible as charges may not be necessary if swift action is taken to prevent or limit damage. Charges for replacement of lost parts or damage may be taken out of the deposit if necessary. If the carrier is rendered unusable, the full price of carrier replacement up to and including the full deposit will be taken from the deposit paid before hire unless the library deems it not necessary due to extenuating circumstances. These decisions will be made on a case by case basis.

Delayed or failed return:

Slings must be returned by the end of their last hire day unless an extension to hire is arranged. Please contact us if return or hire extension are an issue for you and we will discuss available options (eg hiring a similar, cheaper carrier or returning to a different location etc).

If the carrier is not returned and no extension requested, we will attempt to contact you again to remind you and will also charge £1/day from your deposit until the carrier is returned. If, during this time, extension is arranged, these charges will be stopped but a top up payment to the deposit will be required. If the carrier is not returned after 3 months, we may invoice you for the full retail cost of the carrier unless it is returned. If there is no response to this after 2 weeks, we reserve the right to press small claims charges.

Data protection:

Your personal information is only collected for the purposes of enabling you to hire slings or use our services. We may use your contact details to remind you when your hire period is coming to an end or to chase up a hired item. You will only be contacted about upcoming events or stock updates if you have given us your permission to do so. Hire information, including the personal information of anyone who has used our library, is saved for 5 years in line with our insurance requirements. We do not sell your personal data onto any third parties. If you want more information about this, please contact us.