Join us this Saturday, February 11, at 2:00 pm in the Union Township Public Library meeting room, for a special program commemorating Ripley in the Flood of 1937.

Greg Haitz will present a talk, and we’ll show photographs of the Flood of 1937. Local residents with memories, family stories, or photographs of the flood are welcome to bring them and share during the event.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the historic flood of 1937, which exceeded all previous records along the Ohio River. During the flood, most of Ripley was under water, along with many other towns along the Ohio River. The main floor of the Union Township Public Library, designed to be above the previous flood record set in 1913, was flooded with several feet of water, and over 1000 volumes were destroyed. The 1937 flood level is marked by this plaque, outside the main Library entrance.

The water rose rapidly after a combination of rising river levels and intense rain, and crested far above the levels predicted, catching local residents off guard. Read some personal recollections of Ripley residents who experienced the Flood of 1937, and see historic photographs, at ripleyohio.net.

This program commemorating Ripley during the Flood of 1937 is sponsored by the Ripley Bicentennial Committee. For more information, contact Betty Campbell at 937-392-4044, or by email at bcampbellriverfarm@att.net.

Computer Basics: Windows 7
Tuesday, February 7, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Become familiar with basic computer features, functions, and tasks in this introductory class. Discover how to interact with a computer running Windows 7. Beginners welcome!

Microsoft Word
Tuesday, February 14, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Learn to use the popular word processing program Microsoft Word to create and format documents. This class will focus on the extended features offered in Microsoft Word toolbars, adding clip art, using tables, and more.

Text to Speech: Windows 7
Tuesday, February 21, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Did you know you can control your computer with voice commands? Learn to use the Windows 7 integrated speech recognition feature to execute commands, or dictate documents.

Question & Answer Session
Tuesday, February 28, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Have a nagging computer question? Need help? Bring your computer questions to this open help session, and we’ll work with you to find the answer.

Students and parents are invited to hear a free jazz concert, and learn about the history of jazz in America, at the Union Township Public Library. On Saturday, January 21, at 2:00 pm, Glenn Ginn, Associate Professor of Music at Morehead State University, will visit the Ripley Library and present a performance featuring a unique blend of Americana music, from jazz and blues to country, gospel and classic rock. Glenn will be accompanied by his wife, Lisa, and by Larry and John Ford.

This free educational performance is offered as part of the After School Enrichment program, and is sponsored in part by the Friends of the Library, and the 21st Century Grant.

Glenn is an accomplished guitarist, and is a graduate of the world-famous jazz studies program at the University of North Texas. Lisa, a self-taught vocalist, cites many greats such as Aretha Franklin and Billie Holiday as her inspirations. Together, they’ve released two CDs, Swing Street and I Know Who Holds Tomorrow. Their upcoming new release, There’s a Road, is a collection of original songs by Glenn.

After nearly 20 years at the Ripley Library, Technology Director and “face of the Library” Jerry Daniel will retire at the end of 2011. Jerry has been a familiar face and voice at the front desk of the Ripley Library for many years, providing patrons with wonderful service, item recommendations, and technical advice. His extensive knowledge of library services and materials, patrons, and the friendly service he offers will be missed by co-workers and library patrons.

Alison Gibson, Library Director, writes:

Jerry Daniel, while titled Technology Director, is also the voice and the face of Ripley’s circulation desk, as well as computer problem solver, and book and movie “reserver” extraordinaire. Jerry made it possible for us to move from pencil and card circulation to being a member of the SEO online system we are part of today: when we started linking with the other libraries, Jerry used his talent and know-how to run line, troubleshoot, and crimp a million cable ends to bring us into the 21st century. He made it possible for us to smoothly go from one library location to three, connecting all of us to the online world. He’s barcoded thousands of items, knows where material often hides, has helped out with funky phone problems, and knows just about every person that walks in the door – and their family, and their library card number, and what they like to read or watch… His knowledge of Ripley and Ripley people (and places – he’s helped out with identifying lots of old photos) is priceless and will be missed very much.

Please stop in before the end of the year to say hello and wish him lots of retirement wishes. After nearly 20 years at the library, we hope retirement happily suits him, and it will be a long time before I look at the desk, behind the counter, and stop expecting to see him there.

Stop by the Union Township Public Library between now and December 31, to wish Jerry a happy retirement!

Everyone is welcome to leave Jerry a note in the retirement album we’ve placed for him at the front desk – look for the small red album, and write a retirement greeting or library memory for Jerry.

Patrons of the Union Township Public Library have special Christmas memories of visiting Magic Santa at the Library each year. This Monday, December 19, at 7:00 pm, Magic Santa returns to the Ripley Library!

Library Director, Alison Gibson, relates:

For more than twenty years, Magic Santa has regaled children of all ages with his magic and jokes, as well as being the very best Santa.

Be sure to stop by the Ripley Library this Monday, at 7:00 pm, to visit with Magic Santa, watch his magic show and jokes, and chat with him!

For more information, call the Union Township Public Library at 937-392-4871.

Come to the Union Township Public Library on Sunday, December 4th, at 2:00 pm, to hear Steve Free perform songs from his newly released Christmas album.

We’re excited to welcome Steve Free back to the Ripley Library to share songs from his first ever Christmas album, The Light of Christmas. Steve Free is an award-winning singer/songwriter who weaves his southern Ohio heritage into his music, resulting in a blend of folk, rock, country, and traditional styles. Steve’s most recent visit to the Union Township Public Library was last summer, when community members gathered to hear him perform selections from his original albums.

Everyone is welcome to join us in the Ripley Library Meeting Room, to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season with this free program. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Library.

To learn more about Steve Free, or listen to selections from The Light of Christmas, visit his website stevefree.com.

Stop by the Union Township Public Library, check out books, and enter your name into a drawing for a Christmas Gift Basket. Now through December 17, adults who check out 10 items or more may enter their name into a drawing for a Christmas Gift Basket. The basket includes a winter fleece throw, a Good Housekeeping Christmas Cookbook, a Country Living Christmas idea book, Christmas mugs, tea, and chocolate.

Children who check out 10 items or more may enter their name in the drawing for the Kids’ Christmas Gift Basket, located at the children’s desk downstairs. The children’s basket includes two plush animal toys, books, including The Spirit of Christmas, a tea party set, rubber balls, a Christmas DVD set, and other items.

Enter as often as you visit the Ripley Library, and check out 10 items. Participants are limited to one entry per Library visit. The winning name for each basket will be drawn December 17.

Merry Christmas!

Watch for these newly released holiday-themed movies, and soon to be released feature films on DVD, at your local branch of the Union Township Public Library system. Use the Online Catalog to request popular DVD titles now, to ensure that you receive a copy more quickly. Select your preferred library location when placing your item request, and as soon as a copy becomes available for you to pick up at your local branch, we’ll call to inform you.

Holiday Movies

Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure (PG)
Starring: John Cleese, Munro Chambers, Robert Picardo

Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas Special (G)
Starring: Queen Latifah, Ray Romano, Ciaro Brava

Christmas Lodge (G)
Starring: Victoria Banks, Michael Shanks, Erin Karpluk

Mandie and the Forgotten Christmas (G)
Starring: Glennellen Anderson, Kelly Washington, Amanda Waters

The Christmas Bunny (PG)
Starring: Colby French, Florence Henderson, Sophie Bolen

Christmas with a Capital C (NR)
Starring: Daniel Baldwin, Nancy Stafford, Ted McGinley

Christmas Mail (NR)
Starring: Ashley Scott , A.J. Buckley, Rolanda Watts

Holiday Baggage (PG)
Starring: Cheryl Ladd, Barry Bostwick

A Golden Christmas 2: The Second Tail (G)
Starring: Julie Gonzalo, Kelly Stables, KC Clyde

The Sons of Mistletoe (NR)
Starring: Roma Downey, George Newbern, Scott Terra

Snowmen (PG)
Starring: Bobby Coleman, Josh Flitter, Ray Liotta

New Feature Films

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (PG 13) Nov 11
Starring: Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint

The Help (PG 13) Dec 6
Starring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer

Spy Kids 4 (PG) Nov 22
Starring: Jessica Alba, Jeremy Piven, Joel McHale

Cowboys & Aliens (PG 13) Dec 6
Starring: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde

The Smurfs (PG) Dec 2
Starring: Hank Azaria, Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays

Super 8 (PG 13) Nov 22
Starring: Amanda Michalka, Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney

Sarah’s Key (PG 13) Nov 22
Starring: Kristen Scott Thomas, Niels Arestrup, Melusine Mayance

The Change-Up (R) Nov 8
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann

Friends with Benefits (R) Dec 2
Starring: Jenna Elfman, Mila Kunis, Patricia Clarkson

Glee: The Concert Movie () Dec 20
Starring: Cory Monteith, Lea Michele, Jane Lynch

Columbiana (PG 13)
Starring: Zoe Saldana, Michael Vartan, Callum Blue

Blackthorne (R)
Starring: Eduardo Noriega, Sam Shepard, Stephen Rea

The Aberdeen Branch Library is hosting a Christmas Reading Contest and drawing for young readers, now through December 16.

Kids who check out 5 books at the Aberdeen Library can enter their name in one of two drawings for a boys’ and girls’ twin bedding set. The girls drawing prize includes a Disney Fairies comforter, twin sheet set, and plush pillow. The boys’ drawing prize is a Cars-themed comforter, twin sheet set, and plush pillow.

Children are welcome to enter their name in the boys’ or girls’ drawing each time they check out 5 books at the Aberdeen Library, now through December 16. The drawing for the prize winners of the boys’ and girls’ gift sets will be held Friday, December 16.

The Reading Contest prizes were donated by the Friends of the Aberdeen Library, in memory of longtime Friends member Lou Durbin. Lou served as President of the Friends of the Aberdeen Library, and was active in supporting both children’s and adult library programming. She is missed by the Aberdeen Friends and Library community.

Join us this Sunday, November 20, at 2:00 pm at the Union Township Public Library, as we celebrate the release of Ripley, Ohio: Its History and Families Volume 2. Come hear from Bicentennial Book Planning Committee members as they share about the process of compiling the book and answer questions, join us for refreshments, and purchase a copy of the newly published book chronicling Ripley’s heritage.

Ripley, Ohio: Its History and Families Volume 2 was compiled in anticipation of the 2012 bicentennial of Ripley’s founding. Volume 2 follows Volume 1, which was published in 1965 to celebrate Ripley’s 1962 sesquicentennial.

The Bicentennial Book Planning Committee, chaired by Tom Zachman, was commissioned by Ripley Heritage to compile an updated version of Ripley’s history, focusing on the town’s development over the last 50 years. Ripley, Ohio: Its History and Families Volume 2 features articles chronicling the town’s businesses, residents, societies and organizations, including schools and churches, the Ripley Progress Club, Masons, Friends of the Library, Citizens for Use, and more. While Volume 2 focuses on the last 50 years, it also includes expanded historical information about the town’s earlier history, as an update to the contents of Volume 1. Volume 2 also includes information about Ripley’s history as an important Underground Railroad site, and about local efforts to preserve Ripley’s heritage through the John P. Parker Historical Society and Ripley Heritage organization.

During the book’s planning process, Ripley residents were invited to contribute short accounts of their family history. The book serves as a community album, as well as local history, and features a section of color photographs, as well as many black and white images scattered throughout the text. Local residents may find their picture in photographs of RULH graduating classes, Tobacco Festival Parades, and church events.

Ripley, Ohio: Its History and Families Volume 2 is a hardback book published in a limited edition, is 320 pages long, and features a color photograph section. The cost to purchase a copy is $39, which includes sales tax. Ripley residents who preordered a copy will be able to pick up their book at the Union Township Public Library on Sunday. Additional copies will be for sale at the Library as supplies last.

In addition, those interested in the now rare Ripley, Ohio: Its History and Families Volume 1 may purchase a searchable digital copy of the original book on CD-ROM, including complete scans of the original volume, for $10, through the Union Township Public Library. For more information, or to order a copy, call the Union Township Public Library at 937-392-4871.