EDDYVILLE — The town’s library has many supporters, and Friends of the Library, a nonprofit group, wanted to thank them.

That’s why the Friends hosted a “totally free family event” Saturday on the lawn of the Eddyville Public Library, 202 S. Second St.

The Family Fun Fest featured numerous free activities such as three inflatable jumpers, Thomas the Train rides, lawn games (such as ball toss, ladder golf and the duck pond), face painting and craft tables.

Firefighter Gene Rouze of Eddyville Fire Department and his firetruck blocked the street on one side of the library. Several young visitors had many questions about the truck and fighting fires.

Joyce Conner is a Friend of the Library and she said the Fun Fest project started last fall.

“My daughter’s church did a party like this, so I sent out letters asking for volunteers and got a good response,” she said. “Considering the economy, we thought it’d be nice to do this in return for the community’s support of the library.”

Friends of the Library has purchased computers and new chairs for the computer work stations, according to Conner. The group buys items the library’s budget doesn’t cover.

The Fun Fest was also a kickoff for the library’s Summer Reading Program, which starts June 8 and runs through July.

What inspired Conner to help the library?

“If you can read, you can conquer the world,” she said. “And, in today’s world, computer access is so important. Students who know how to use one can do research for school projects.”

Friends of the Library started three years ago and members are from Eddyville, Chillicothe, Fremont, Cedar, Bussey, Ottumwa and Albia.

Library Director Vicky Vroegh was “very pleased” with the turnout.” The event started at 10 a.m. Saturday and by 11:30 a.m., more than 300 people had attended.

“We had 40 people in line by 9 a.m.,” she said.

Library fundraisers have been successful, so the library supporters wanted “to give back to the community,” Vroegh added.

At one craft table, Annette and Joe Roe, Scout leaders of Cub Scouts Pack 100, helped Lydia Moses, 6, and Libby Moses, 4, with leather stamping. Using several metal stampers and a small mallet, the girls pounded the leather pieces with letters of their names and other icons, such as trees, flowers and animals.