NEW YORK (WLNY) – American Girl Dolls are the hot toy for young girls – but not everyone can afford to play with one.

One local librarian is looking to change that.

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Thea Taube devised a plan to make sure that children could enjoy the American Girl phenomenon – even if they don’t have one to call their own.

After finding a ‘Kirsten’ doll in her new office at the Ottendorfer branch of the New York Public Library in the East Village, Taube began lending the toy to young girls who frequented the library.

Now, Kirsten gets lent out just like a book.

“I just thought you know, the girls would ask, and I would tell them, ‘This little doll loves to visit other dolls, and she loves to have her hair done.’”