Ellsworth Public Library

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Early Literacy Programs | After School Programs | Homeschool Hour | 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:


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.

  • Every other Tuesday at 3:15 PM: Tween Time with Ms. Keli
  • Second and fourth Wednesdays at 3:15 PM: Hot Wheel Club with Ms. Jean
  • 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)


Homeschool Hour at the Ellsworth Public Library

Learn, Create, and Connect!

Join us for Homeschool Hour, a fun and welcoming space for homeschool families to come together and explore new themes each week! Whether it’s hands-on activities, creative projects, or discovering something new, there’s always something exciting in store. Homeschool Hour isn’t just about learning—it’s also a great way to meet and connect with other families in the homeschool community.

Come hang out, make new friends, and enjoy a supportive environment designed just for you. All ages are welcome to participate, and we can’t wait to see what we’ll explore next!

15 January 2025: Backyard Bird Count
5 February 2025: Make Your Own Valentine
9 February 2025: Food Science
5 March 2025: Ocean Day
19 March 2025: Welcome to Spring!
2 April 2025: Poetry Day
16 April 2025: Recycled Crafts
7 May 2025: Field Day


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, more than 115 young patrons between 5 and 15 have signed up for the program.

You can 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.

Read more about Jean’s motivation to bring Reading Dragons the Ellsworth Public Library here:
Slay the Dragon – Library Program encourages kids to conquer reading (ellsworthamerican.com | by William Tracy | 11 December 2024)

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 winter 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. Come share with us which books you have read until March 22. Everyone who sticks with the program will receive a tote and some special badges.

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 catalog, and different genres. The purpose of Glide 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.

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:

  1. Fun:
    Make storytime an engaging and enjoyable experience for your kids!
  2. Convenience:
    We provide curated selections like summer or spring kits, and animal-themed kits (e.g., dogs, turtles).
  3. Variety:
    Each kit includes books, puppets, props, rhymes, or crafts to enrich your child’s storytime experience.
  4. Cost Savings:
    Enjoy a wealth of resources without the expense.
  5. Educational Value:
    Our kits are designed to support early literacy and develop social, language, and listening skills.
  6. 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