Union Township Public Library - Ripley, Aberdeen, Russellville

09/10/2026

From the desk of Alison Gibson, Director
We just added this postcard to our collection, and wouldn't you know it, an almost identical picture just showed up on the Ripley History Facebook. Ours has the names of the two doctors on the building, but otherwise, the differences are so slight as if they were taken at the same time. Dr. Robert T Prine (1875-1939) graduated from Ohio Medical College in 1897, and Dr. A. W. Francis (1859-1928) graduated from the same college in 1889. Dr. Francis briefly worked with Dr. Dixon, but by the summer of 1889, he joined with Dr. Prine. When reading the the Ripley Bee, it appears both doctors were well respected and both were very active in the community. We were hoping to find an advertisement for their office with an address, but so far, no luck. On the Ripley History Facebook, some readers say the office was on Main Street, others say across from the old school.
This is the week to start our little kid story times here at Ripley. Toddler Two'sdays are (you guessed it) on Tuesdays for 2-year-olds at 10:30 in the morning and PreK Story Time for kids 3-5 years old are on Wednesdays at 11:00 am. Miss Julie will have stories, songs and activities. These programs are great to introduce kids to the library, to be in a group of other kids for social learning and just have fun.
We've posted our introduction to Mahjong, but in case you missed it, it will be this coming Saturday morning at 11:00. Class size is limited, so call to sign up 937-392-4871. Russellville Branch is having their annual Book & Bargain Sale as well on Saturday from 9:00 to 1:00. Lots of books, but then there are the other tables filled with 'stuff'—one never knows what treasures will be found. The money raised during the sale goes to library programs and materials. Thanks for supporting your local library.

09/09/2026

09/03/2026

From the desk of Alison Gibson, Director
Dolly Parton's passing reminded us, on a library level, of the many areas she has touched. Of course, we have books and DVDs from her biography Dolly: My Life and Unfinished Business, to DVD Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors to the cookbook Good Lookin' Cookin': A Year of Meals and a Lifetime of Family, Friends and Food by Dolly Parton and her sister Rachel Parton George. Did you know she collaborated with author James Patterson to write a novel? Titled Run, Rose, Run.

We think the biggest 'library' influence has been her amazing program to offer free books monthly to children 0-5 years old with her Imagination Library. Over the years, we have heard such positive responses from the parents (and older kids) who loved getting a book in the mail to keep, and to have their own library to build. The cost of even paperback books has risen substantially, and to have this program in place is wonderful. All you have to do is sign up- either online or pick up a form at your library. Our Ripley Friends of the Library contribute annually to the program as they feel it is vitally important to our young population.

The library recently received the 1985-86 RULH yearbook for our collection and it is a fun year to look through. If you've lost yours, or want to browse through names and faces of Ripley kids 40 years ago, it is sitting in our reference section along with many other yearbooks. We probably will never attain a full set of every year, but each addition is a treasure.

Our libraries will be closed on Monday September 7th in observance of Labor Day.

08/31/2026

Aberdeen Library

08/27/2026

From the desk of Alison Gibson, Director
We like to share bits of Ripley history that we find, (often when looking for something else!). We didn't know that Dr. Francis Johnson (1866-1923) was born in Ripley, he was Aunt Polly Jackson's nephew and made tremendous inroads in the medical field in Cincinnati. The information in this book is a good example of needing to check and recheck sources. According to Earlham College records, he was a student from 1881-1883, but we can't find confirmation of his graduation. He did graduate from the Columbus Medical College in 1892. We now have a copy of his thesis in our records. In looking at early 1900s Cincinnati papers, he was involved in politics and worked hard to help create the Peter Fossett Memorial Hospital, Cincinnati's first hospital geared to serve the Black population. The hospital was also a training hospital for physicians and nurses. So yet another Ripley resident that went on to make a positive difference in the world.

Last Thursday night's genealogy class had three new attendees, and we hope the growth continues. Next meeting will be Thursday, September 17th at 6:30 in the meeting room. Everyone welcome.

08/22/2026

From the desk of Alison Gibson, Director
After the popularity of the Jerry's Restaurant postcard, we looked for another popular Aberdeen restaurant and found a postcard of Frisch's. We suspect this will bring back lots of memories for our readers. We wish every business had postcards made...clearly low tech, but fun to find and share. One would think there would be photos of most every business, but they aren't easy to find. Wish we had a picture of the interior of the library from the early years, but so far, no luck. Recently, the Women's Club was looking for pictures of past restaurants in Ripley, however the success rate was pretty low. We are glad to share what we have, and are always looking for more.

Our Genealogy Club is back for the fall season starting this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The agenda is usually open to the questions brought to the table. Can't find Aunt Gertie in the census? Not sure how Uncle Dan really, really fits into the family? Bring your questions, or share your 'ah ha' moments with us. Melody Kokensparger will bring her Ancestry.com account to use, and there are many other tools , both print and online that help in finding out information on your family.

08/13/2026

From the desk of Alison Gibson, Director
While this postcard, from the 1913 flood era, has been shown before, we are sharing it again, not so much for the flood, but for the picture of the corner building long before it was the Riviera (and Snappers was 'just' a house). As the renovations are underway, we find it interesting to look at one of the building's earlier appearances. And hey, the water parallel with Front Street and the wharf boat looking like a house across the street is fun to look at as well.

Seems as if it was only yesterday that school was out for the summer...now it is time to start up again! While 90-degree weather doesn't seem like 'back to school' time, the little (annoying) yellow leaves are falling off the trees in front of the Ripley Library, so we can pretend it is closer to fall. We hope to see the students and teachers using both the school and public library for resources as well as fun reading material. Literacy rules, and the more you read, the more rounded and aware you are! While we love it when you come in to the libraries, we realize time can be short—just a reminder that with your library card and pin number, you can download from the Libby app—many thousands of books (both in print and audible form) as well as magazines are available for free, with both adult and juvenile titles.

08/06/2026

The library staff wish to thank the Village of Ripley for replacing the utility pole last Friday. It was a big job that had to be delicately done so as not to disturb the many cables that ran to it—much appreciated.

The Mahan gift arrived last Thursday—an 1826 copy of John Milton's Paradise Lost. First owned by James Collins of Ripley, then sold to John Mahan in 1830, it has survived in the Mahan family all these years. The book and the print are pretty small for Milton's epic poem—to read it was a test of good eyesight! We appreciate being selected as the next steward of this book.

Thinking of old books, we are in an age that old books of limited issue are now being reprinted—a facsimile, so the text looks just as it did originally. This allows us to have a circulating copy to be checked out! The latest we've purchased is of interest to Civil War buffs—titled The Story of a Regiment: A History of the Campaigns, and Associations in the Field, of the Sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Originally printed in 1868 by author E. Hannaford. Why this book? Ripley's Jacob Ammen is frequently involved in the battles, and was in Ripley in 1861 as Superintendent of Public Schools. He was a close associate of U.S. Grant.

August—planning for school, fitting in last-minute summer trips, meeting your reading goals! We are wrapping up the summer reading program for the kids this week, and want to thank the Ripley Boat Club for once again offering the pizza incentive for reading lots of books this year.