Early Literacy Programs | After School Programs | Reading Programs | Library of Things | Personalized Reading Lists
Welcome to Our Family Place Library: Where Kids’ Learning Begins
Our library is a recognized Family Place Library. The Family Place Libraries ™ initiative promotes a national model for transforming public libraries into welcoming, developmentally appropriate early learning environments for very young children, their parents and caregivers.
Based on research about the importance of early brain development, the Family Place Library supports the essential role of parents as first teachers and addresses the physical, social, emotional and cognitive aspects of child development to help build a foundation for learning during the critical first years of life.
By partnering and working with other social, health and educational services providers, the Family Place model aims to ensure that all children enter school ready and able to learn and positions libraries as key early childhood and family support organizations within the local community.
Explore Our Current Early Literacy Programs
We offer a variety of children’s library programs tailored to different age groups. These are our recurring early literacy programs:
- Mondays at 10:30 AM: Move & Groove with Ms. Jean
- Tuesdays at 10:30 AM: Messy Art with Ms. Keli
- Thursdays at 10:30 AM: Family Storytime with Ms. Keli
- Fridays at 9 AM: Baby Story & Play with Ms. Cheryl
- Fridays at 10:30 AM: Explore & Play with Ms. Cheryl
After-School Programs at the Ellsworth Public Library
During the 2024/25 school year, we are offering a broad after-school program. Our After-School events are a great way to unwind and learn new skills. It’s perfect for kids who want to try something new in a relaxed and friendly environment. Please be aware that some of these events require registration to help us better prepare and/or because spots are limited.
- Mondays at 3:15 PM: Books & More Book Club with Ms. Jean (October 7 – November 25, 2024)
- Every other Tuesday at 3:15 PM: Tween Time with Ms. Keli
- Fridays at 2 PM: Legos (1st Friday of the month), Changing Program (2nd Friday of the month),
4-H Workshops (3rd Friday of the month), Riverview Creatives (4th Friday of the month)
Reading Programs for Grades K – 12
Reading Dragons & Friends (Grades K – 12)
Since our youth librarian Jean Pauly kicked off the Reading Dragons Challenge on October 5, 115 young patrons between 5 and 15 have signed up for the program.
You can sign up anytime and join other participants from Hancock, Lamoine, Ellsworth, Surry, Mt. Desert, Trenton, Bucksport, Hampden, Franklin, Cherryfield, Beech Hill, Gouldboro, Winterport, Brooksville, Cave Hill, and Otis and are enrolled in public, private, and community schools as well as in homeschool programs.
Reading Dragon Cards are collectible and playable. They feature mythical creatures like dragons, unicorns, griffins, and more. This program is a fantastic way to motivate kids to read and build positive reading habits. For every 30 minutes read, they will receive a Dragon (or magical creature) card.
Mark Your Calendars!
On January 18, 2025, we will hold a Reading Dragons Tournament from 10 AM – Noon. Participants can bring their cards to meet other Reading Dragons challengers for a morning of games, crafts, and other dragon-themed activities. A Special Dragon Family will be released only on this day! Ages 5 and up!
Reading Dragons is a collaborative national reading program originally created by the Dover Public Library in Ohio.
Fall into Literacy (ages 2 – 5, open to anyone who reads picture books)
We are excited to announce a new fall reading initiative for young children and their families. This season, our librarians have carefully selected 50 categories of books to enjoy with your little ones. Participants are encouraged to read 25 books by December 21 to earn a special prize.
Those who complete all 50 categories will receive an additional prize and be entered into a drawing to win a book. This program is a wonderful opportunity to explore a variety of seasonal books while discovering the library’s collection and catalogue, and different genres. The purpose of Fall into Literacy is to get creative and have fun with your very own approach to reading. and engaging in the five Early Literacy Practices: singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing. Families are invited to join the fun and nurture a love of reading with their children this fall. Starting September 21, parents can pick up the Fall into Literacy booklet at the library.
Families have until December 21 to finish the challenge. There will be a new challenge released every season.
Discover Items suitable for Kids in Our Library of Things
Our Library of Things is a treasure trove of resources, including lawn games, tools, book club kits, puzzles, themed explorer kits, STEM boxes, board games, and more. A special feature is our Storytime Kits. These kits are perfect for parents, grandparents, or caregivers looking to enhance storytime with new books and engaging activities including a variety of materials such as books, puppets, props, rhymes, or crafts.
6 Reasons to Check out our Storytime Kits
Storytime Kits are available to every library cardholder and offer the following benefits:
- Fun:
Make storytime an engaging and enjoyable experience for your kids! - Convenience:
We provide curated selections like summer or spring kits, and animal-themed kits (e.g., dogs, turtles). - Variety:
Each kit includes books, puppets, props, rhymes, or crafts to enrich your child’s storytime experience. - Cost Savings:
Enjoy a wealth of resources without the expense. - Educational Value:
Our kits are designed to support early literacy and develop social, language, and listening skills. - Exploration:
Discover new books, themes, and activities that you and your child may not have considered before.
Need inspiration?
Do you need help picking out new books to read? Personalized reading lists are designed to help readers ages 8-18 find great new books! Simply complete this form and within 7 days your list will be emailed to you. Happy reading!
Easy Ways to Learn about our Special Kids’ Events
To discover our special one-off and longer-running events, please
Some programs may require registration. We encourage you to check our calendar regularly. For more information, contact us via email at info [at] ellsworthlibrary.net or call us at 207.667.6363.
Check our library calendar, Follow us on Facebook, or Sign up for our newsletter.
Thank you to some of our program partners this year
Maine Outdoor School,
Frenchman Bay Conservancy,
UMaine’s Cooperative Extension throughout the fall and beyond