With a beautiful performance space sitting at the top of the new Harvard library, some members of the Friends of the Library felt it would be a shame for it not to be used. Volunteers Hall, the former assembly room back from the library’s days as a school, is the wide-open space on the library’s third floor, decorated with distinctive rounded cross-beams to support its vaulted roof.

The newly formed Harvard Friends of the Arts hopes to fill that space with a broad range of performances. Chris Frechette, the group’s coordinator, said the performances will range from children’s entertainment to professional music, plays, and comedy.

The first presentation from the group will be the “Kids Concert and Instrument Petting Zoo” Sunday, September 30, from 2 to 3 p.m. Several high school musicians will play selections on their instruments, and explain a bit about how each instrument works. The program is the brainchild of two Bromfield students, Jeff Lee and Marissa Dickson, who wanted audience members to be able to handle and play each instrument.

Other tentative plans for the next few months include a folk concert, comedy improvisation, a storytelling night, and the production of “Love Letters,” a dramatic reading of the correspondence of an engaged couple writing in the late 19th century.

Also under consideration are a puppet show, film nights, jazz, local talent night, contra dancing, comedy, poetry slams, bluegrass, one-act plays, tango lessons, Robert Burns night, and author readings. For townspeople with other ideas, the group has put together a proposal form that can be used by anyone who would like to submit suggestions for other performances.

Even before the new library was ready for occupancy, Friends of the Library co-presidents Chris and Susan Frechette were talking with others about forming a group, a sort of sub-group of the Friends, that would organize events for the hall. Once the library opened, the timing seemed right to start looking for volunteers and hashing out a plan.

Although the Friends of the Arts will work closely with the library staff and board, the group is self-directed and has developed its own mission and goals. According to the group’s written mission, its goal is to create a central gathering place and community resource where people can “experience, appreciate, and support the transformative power of artistic expression.”