Steve Free Performs Christmas Music at the Union Township Public Library

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.

Ripley Library Offers Drawing for Kids, Adults Christmas Baskets

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!

Christmas Movies and Feature Films Available at Your Library

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

Children Read Books to Enter Christmas Drawing at the Aberdeen Library

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.

Ripley History Volume 2 Released at the Union Township Public Library

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.

New Feature Films, Holiday Movies Available Now on DVD

These new feature films and holiday-themed movies will be released this month on DVD. Place your requests for these popular titles as soon as they become available in the Catalog, to ensure you receive a copy more quickly. Use the Online Catalog, or call your local library to place requests. Titles indicated are also available in Blu-ray format from the Union Township Public Library.

Scream 4 (R)
Starring: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courtney Cox

Zookeeper (PG)
Starring: Kevin James, Rosario Dawson, Leslie Bibb

Captain America: The First Avenger (PG 13)
Starring: Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Hayley Atwell

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (PG 13)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush

Bad Teacher (R)
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Jason Segel

Crazy, Stupid Love (PG 13)
Starring: Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (PG)
Starring: Jordana Beatty, Heather Graham

The Dog Who Saved Halloween (PG)
Starring: Dean Cain, Gary Valentine, Elisa Donovan

Winnie the Pooh Movie (G)
Starring: John Cleese, Jim Cummings, Craig Ferguson

Cars 2 (G)
Starring: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine

Meek’s Cutoff (PG)
Starring: Bruce Greenwood, Michelle Williams, Paul Dano

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

Larry Crowne (PG 13)
Starring: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Roxana Ortega

Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World (PG)
Starring: Jessica Alba, Jeremy Piven, Joel McHale

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

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

Holiday Movies

Christmas Lodge (not rated)
Starring: Victoria Banks, Michael Shanks, Erin Karpluk

A Christmas Wedding (PG)
Starring: Sarah Paulson, Richard Blackburn

Holiday Wishes (PG)
Starring: Amber Benson, Tygh Runyan, Britt McKillip

Christmas Mail (not rated)
Starring: A. J. Buckley, Ashley Scott, Rolonda Watts

The Christmas Bunny (PG)
Starring: Florence Henderson

Christmas With a Capital C (not rated)
Starring: Ted McGinley, Daniel Baldwin, Brad Stine

A Golden Christmas: The Second Tail (not rated)
Starring:

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

Friends of the Aberdeen Library Hold Fall Book Sale November 4 and 5

The Friends of the Aberdeen Library will hold their annual Fall Book Sale Friday and Saturday, November 4 and 5, during Library hours.

Fall Book Sale at the Aberdeen Library
Friday, November 4, 12:00 – 5:45 pm
Saturday, November 5, 10:00 am – 1:45 pm

The Book Sale will offer hardback and paperback books, including many recent titles by popular authors, DVD and VHS movies, non-fiction, and periodicals. The Friends of the Library gladly accept donated books and items for the sale at the library throughout the year.

The Friends of the Aberdeen Library is a non-profit, volunteer organization, which uses funds raised by the Book Sale to help the Aberdeen Library purchase new books, new public access computers, and supports the Summer Reading Program. To learn how you can help, or join the Friends of the Aberdeen Library, contact Friends President Penny Westheider at 937-795-8026.

J. T. Townsend Explores True Crime in Cincinnati History

What keeps armchair detectives awake at night? A local author visits the Union Township Public Library just in time for Halloween, to discuss true crime from Cincinnati history. J. T. Townsend, author of Queen City Gothic: Cincinnati’s Most Infamous Murder Mysteries, will present a program based on his book for adults who are fascinated by the sinister side of Cincinnati’s history.

Queen City Gothic:
Cincinnati’s Most Infamous Murder Mysteries
by J. T. Townsend
Union Township Public Library
Saturday, October 29th, 1:30 pm

Mr. Townsend is a freelance writer and lifelong resident of Cincinnati. He is the former true crime historian for Snitch Magazine, and his work has appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati Magazine, Word Magazine, and Clews. Queen City Gothic was published in 2009. For more information about J. T. Townsend, and Queen City Gothic, visit the author’s website.

Signed copies of Queen City Gothic will be available for sale after the program.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ripley Library. Call 937-392-4871 for more information.

New DVDs Now Available at the Union Township Public Library

Look for these new feature films, television series, documentaries, and children’s movies on DVD in your local branch library. Visit the Online Catalog to place a request for titles that interest you, to ensure that you’ll receive popular items more quickly.

Watch for this new fiction at the Union Township Public Library

We’re expecting dozens of new fiction titles by popular authors this fall. Browse these recent and soon-to-be-released titles, and place your requests for titles that interest you. Requesting popular items ahead of time ensures that you’ll receive a copy more quickly. You can place requests using the Online Catalog, or by calling your local branch.