ELLSWORTH — Just as the city library enters what is traditionally the busiest month, it has begun a summer series for “children of all ages” that has already drawn a record turnout.

About 90 people attended the first program this week. The program was led by storyteller Kevin Duplissie of Brewer, who illustrated his tales by creating balloon art on the spot. About 65 of those in attendance were children, said library director Pat Foster.

“Monday Night Live,” a similar series that the library sponsored at City Hall a few years ago, drew 60 to 70 people.

The new series is funded by a $650 grant from the Regional Arts Commission of Hancock, Waldo and Piscataquis counties. The free programs are held every other Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. to allow members of the audience to be out in time to attend band concerts at City Hall beginning at 8 p.m.

Some of the artists, musicians, actors and writers are presenting programs at a considerable reduction of their usual fee, Foster said. Presenters include clown George Gjelfriend of Orland, singer Michael Cooney, author Maggie Davis of Blue Hill, and the Krackerjack Theater Company of Portland.

Gjelfriend will present three of Rudyard Kipling’s “Just So Stories” on Aug. 26 in the auditorium at City Hall.

Another upcoming event sponsored by Friends of the library will be a program with Portland’s Will Anderson. Anderson wrote “Was Baseball Really Invented in Maine?” According to Foster, several people from Hancock County are mentioned in the book. Anderson will appear at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 9.

Foster predicts heavy use of the library throughout the summer. Circulation is already up 28 percent over this time last year, she said.

The library trustees will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, and are expected to discuss the possibility of charging non-resident user fees. Foster said the issue may not be resolved then, but did say area towns have been generous this year in appropriating money for the library.

Foster estimated recently that more than half of the 6,000 library card holders live in communities other than Ellsworth.