Union Township Public Library - Serving Ripley, Russellville, and Aberdeen, Ohio

Tour the Library in Pictures

Click on one of the images below to begin a virtual tour of the Union Township Public Library.

The Union Township Public Library is located in historic Ripley, Ohio. The library opened in 1915, after receiving a $10,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation. When construction began in 1914, retaining walls were built elevating the library above the 1913 flood crest; 29 steps lead from Main Street up to the main entrance. The historic flood of 1937 exceeded all previous records, and flooded the library's main level, destroying over 1000 books. The 1937 flood crest is indicated by the Ohio plaque. Tiles from the Rookwood Pottery of Cincinnati frame the main entrance doors, which were originally metal, until replaced with glass in 1962.
The delicate colors of the original Rookwood tiles are still vivid. In 1990, an addition was completed that houses the reference collection, children's section, offices and community meeting rooms. The addition was designed to complement the original Carnegie structure. Care was taken to select matching bricks, and colored tiles that echo the Rookwood tiles decorate the facade. A street-level entryway in the new addition welcomes patrons to the children's section.
The bronze statue of a girl reading was donated to the library in honor of Louise Helbling Wayson, 1933 - 2005. The Ripley Library displays the cannon purchased by the town of Ripley in 1862 for $1000, to defend the town against Morgan's Raiders. The Ripley Library features a collection of materials about the Underground Railroad, and houses archives of more than 100 years of the Ripley Bee newspaper. The Russellville Branch Library was built in 1997, accross from the Russellville Elementary School. It houses a collection of materials onl Ulysses S. Grant, whose boyhood home is in nearby Georgetown, Ohio.
The Aberdeen Branch Library opened in 1998, equipped with a computer lab and community meeting rooms. Patrons are welcome to browse the collection, use one of the public computers, or study. Quilts loaned by community members are displayed above the collection. The UTPL offers patrons access to periodicals, large print, audio books, DVDs, and local historic archives, as well as internet and wifi access. The Union Township Public Library reflects the support and committment of its friends and patrons. Come visit the Library in person - you'll be welcome!

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