Resources

Thanks to a partnership between Ohio’s public libraries and LinkedIn, library patrons now have access to LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda). Your library card gives you access thousands of hours of professional learning content. LinkedIn Learning offers video courses for topics ranging from job skill development to exploring new interests, including software development, business and management skills, productivity tools, education, photography, CAD, marketing, and much more. Learn from the expertise of LinkedIn Learnings professional instructors, download exercises to learn by practicing, take notes, view transcripts, and more. Register with your library card to create a free account, track your progress, and save courses to your playlist to view later. LinkedIn Learning is available for desktop and as a mobile app for iOS and Android. Set up a free account at ripleylibrary.com/lynda with your library card number and PIN.

Download eBooks, audio books, music, magazines, and stream video from the Ohio Digital Library. Your library card gives you 24/7 access to borrow 200,000 digital titles, including current bestsellers. Get started at ohioebooks.org with your library card number and PIN. Install the free OverDrive Media app on your tablet or smartphone to download content.

The Union Township Public Library has digitized historic newspaper archives from Ripley, Ohio, from 1824 through the present. Search by keyword, or browse by newspaper and date. Use the Advanced Search tool to match exact phrases, exclude terms, and limit by city, title, or date. Download an entire page, or crop and print the section of interest. Read more.

Ancestry.com is a powerful genealogy research tool that lets you search through thousands of historic records, including census documents, birth, death, and marriage documents, and more. Visit the Union Township Public Library to access the library’s subscription to Ancestry Library edition. Ancestry Library is only available in the library.

NuWav offers legal documents tailored for Ohio residents. Search for the form you need, customize it for your circumstances, and print your legal document. NuWav offers forms ready to use for common needs including lease agreements, wills, power of attorney, divorce, custody, bankruptcy, medical, and more. Enter your library card number to begin.

EBSCOhost from Academic Search Premier offers access to thousands of full-text articles from scholarly journals and publications. Use the online search tool to find full-text articles, graphs, maps, illustrations, photographs, and other content from scholarly journals. Download full-text articles, and access correct citations in multiple formats.

KidZone is a collection of librarian tested, kid approved links to online games, learning activities, and research tools that help kids develop literacy skills, organized by subject. The games and learning resources listed in KidZone are some of the same resources kids access through the libraries’ Early Literacy Stations. Dive in, and explore, learn, and play!

If your school gives reading assignments based on Accelerated Reader levels and points, use the Accelerated Reader BookFinder to search for books, authors, and series that interest you. Search the Library Catalog Reading Room to find books the library owns by Accelerated Reader level.

Learning Express Library gives you access to test preparation material, practice tests, and skill building courses. Prepare for the SAT, ACT, GED, GRE, career preparation tests, ESL, citizenship, and refresh English and math skills. To create a free account to track your progress, create an Ohio Means Jobs web account.

Ohio Web Library is a directory of online research resources, provided by Ohio libraries to all Ohio residents. Access database subscriptions provided by public libraries, including WorldBook, Consumer Reports, Business Source Premier, Consumer Health Report, Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, Literary Reference Center, and more. Special resources include Ohio-specific guides to identify trees, snakes, and arrowheads.

Academic Search Premier (EBSCO) A popular resource found in many scholarly settings worldwide, Academic Search Premier is a leading multidisciplinary research database. It provides acclaimed full-text journals, magazines and other valuable resources.

African American Heritage (ProQuest) ProQuest® African American Heritage was created in partnership with leading African American genealogists and recognized leaders in genealogical information to develop a comprehensive mix of resources, records, and tools specifically pertaining to African Americans.

Alt HealthWatch (EBSCO) Alt Healthwatch is a full-text alternative health research database focused on complementary, holistic and integrated approaches to health care and wellness. It offers the latest information about the evolving practice of holistic medicine and therapies.

Ancestry Library Edition (ProQuest) *** in-library use only *** Ancestry Library Edition delivers billions of records in census data, vital records, directories, photos, and more to your library. It’s an unprecedented online collection of individuals from North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and more.

Biography Reference Bank (EBSCO) This biographical database offers the in-depth profiles from Current Biography and World Authors, the periodical coverage of Biography Index and the specialist content of Junior Authors & Illustrators. It provides full-text articles, images and abstracts from today’s leading magazines and journals.

Business Source Premier (EBSCO) The industry’s most widely used business research database, Business Source Premier features full text and searchable cited references for top journals covering a variety of business disciplines.

Chilton Library (Gale) Chilton Library represents the most authoritative automotive repair information available to car owners. Become your own mechanic and save money. Do it yourself with access to repair manuals for your car, truck, van or SUV. Domestic and imported models from 1940 to present available.

Computer Source (EBSCO) Computers & Applied Sciences Complete is a full-text database covering computing, technology and engineering disciplines. It is especially useful to researchers studying the business and social implications of new technology.

Consumer Health Complete (EBSCO) Consumer Health Complete supports the information needs of patients and fosters an overall understanding of health-related topics. This resource provides content covering all key areas of health and wellness, from mainstream medicine to the many perspectives of complementary and holistic medicine.

Early World of Learning (World Book) Emergent learners will engage in an interactive and playful environment that encourages reading comprehension and mastery of phonetic skills. Early World of Learning is full of stories, videos, songs, and games to provide a firm foundation for 21st-century learning and digital citizenship.

Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos (World Book) Spanish-language encyclopedia for Spanish speakers and Spanish language learners. Includes maps, images, and activities. Hear text read aloud.

ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) (EBSCO) ERIC is an authoritative database of indexed and full-text education literature and resources. Sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education, it is essential too for education researchers of all kinds.

Explora provides easy-to-use features and reliable content from the world’s leading magazines and reference books, grouped into easy-to-browse categories. Use Explora like an encyclopedia to quickly find up-to-date information about any topic.

Fold3 (ProQuest) Distributed by ProQuest, Fold3 Library Edition by Ancestry provides convenient access to US military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served. This continually-growing collection contains millions of records from world-class archives, many of which are exclusively available on Fold3.

Gran Hispanica (World Book) World Book has partnered with one of the world’s largest and most respected Spanish-language publishers to offer online the Hispánica Saber/Gran Enciclopedia Hispánica, a comprehensive Spanish-language encyclopedia that includes over 100,000 articles; more than 9,000 images and maps; and nearly 1,000 videos, animations, sounds, and interactive media.

Health Source – Consumer Edition (EBSCO) This rich collection of consumer health information provides access to full-text consumer health magazines and reference books. It also includes searchable full text for current health pamphlets.

Health Source – Nursing/Academic Edition (EBSCO) Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition provides researchers, allied health professionals, nurses and medical educators with access to full-text scholarly journals focusing on many medical disciplines. It provides indexing, abstracts and full-text for hundreds of nursing and allied health journals, many of which are peer-reviewed.

Heritage Quest (ProQuest) Discover the amazing history of you with HeritageQuest Online. With more than 4.4 billion records, it delivers an essential collection of genealogical and historical sources—with coverage dating back to the 1700s—that can help people find their ancestors and discover a place’s past.

Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center (EBSCO)This database offers detailed “how-to” instructions and creative ideas to meet the interests of virtually every hobby enthusiast. Full text is provided from leading hobby and craft magazines.

Home Improvement Reference Center (EBSCO)Through a collection of comprehensive full-text content, this database provides users with detailed, user-friendly “how-to” information covering a variety of home improvement and repair projects.

Kids InfoBits (Gale)Kids InfoBits is the perfect educational product for today’s young learners. It is a content-rich, authoritative, easy-to-use digital resource featuring age-appropriate, reliable, curriculum-related content covering a broad range of educational topics. The modern design and simple navigation makes it easy for users to explore content and gain comfort with database searching.

L’Encyclopedie Decouverte (World Book)A full-featured, beginner-level reference source, Découverte provides users with a database written at basic French reading levels. Seamlessly integrates with World Book Kids for parallel English-language content.

L’Encyclopedie Decouverte (World Book)This rich full-text database provides a broad spectrum of information on thousands of authors and their works across literary disciplines and timeframes. It gives students, professors and researchers a foundation of literary reference works to meet their research needs.

Lynda.com (A LinkedIn Company)Lynda.com has more than 6,600 courses, ranging from computer programming to project management including instruction on various computer software, programming languages, and business topics. Learning paths are step-by-step structured courses, supported with quizzes, practice, and learning reminders to encourage you and support you as you make progress towards your goal. Examples of learning paths include how to become a web developer, manager, bookkeeper, project manager, small business owner, digital marketer, or digital illustrator.

MAS Ultra – School Edition (EBSCO)Designed specifically for high school libraries, this database contains full text for popular high school magazines covering a wide-range of subject areas including history, science, careers and more.

MasterFILE Premier (EBSCO)Designed specifically for public libraries, this database provides full-text magazines, reference books and primary source documents. It also includes an extensive image collection containing photos, maps and flags.

MEDLINE (EBSCO)Created by the United States National Library of Medicine, MEDLINE is an authoritative bibliographic database containing citations and abstracts for biomedical and health journals used by health care professionals, nurses, clinicians and researchers.

Middle Search Plus (EBSCO)Designed for middle school libraries, Middle Search Plus is a full-text database providing popular middle school magazines and reference books. Covering subjects such as history, current events, science and sports, it also includes thousands of biographies and primary source documents, plus over a million photos, maps and flags.

Newpaper Source (EBSCO)Newspaper Source provides cover-to-cover full text for hundreds of national (U.S.), international and regional newspapers. In addition, it offers television and radio news transcripts from major networks.

Ohio Means Jobs is Ohio’s one stop resource for finding and applying for jobs. Sign up for a free account, search jobs and apply. Jobs for all levels of experience are available, from internships through executive positions. Access hundreds of practice interviews, millions of scholarship opportunities, and endless information on career planning. Ohio Means Jobs offers access to Learning Express Library.

Ohio Memory Established in 2000, Ohio Memory is the collaborative statewide digital library program of the Ohio History Connection and the State Library of Ohio. On this free website, you can explore digital content from over 360 cultural heritage institutions representing all 88 of Ohio’s counties! Ohio Memory contains over 700,000 digital images from a variety of primary source image types.

Ohio Obituary Index (Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center) An index to over 3,500,000 obituaries, death & marriage notices & other sources from Ohio from the 1810s to the present day. Actual obits may be ordered from over 60 partner libraries; only Hayes Library has online ordering.

Oxford Research Encyclopedias (Oxford University Press)Articles from numerous academic encyclopedias of Social Work, the Oxford Classical Dictionary, American History, Climate Science, Communication, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Environmental Science, International Studies, Latin American History, Linguistics, Literature, Religion, Communication, and Politics.

Points of View Reference Center (EBSCO)Containing resources that present multiple sides of an issue, this database provides rich content that can help students assess and develop persuasive arguments and essays, better understand controversial issues and develop analytical thinking skills.

Primary Search (EBSCO)Designed for elementary school libraries, Primary Search is a full-text database providing popular children’s magazines, easy-to-read encyclopedic entries and a vast image collection. Students can learn about a variety of topics, including endangered species, famous musicians, fitness and space exploration.

Professional Development Collection (EBSCO)Professional Development Collection is a highly specialized database of full-text electronic information especially for educators, professional librarians and education researchers.

Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection (EBSCO)This full-text database is an essential tool for psychologists, counselors, researchers and students, providing extensive coverage for a broad range of subjects in the fields of psychology, behavioral sciences and related disciplines.

Regional Business News (EBSCO)Regional Business News provides full-text regional business publications for the United States and Canadian provinces. Users can search newspapers, magazines and other resources from trusted news sources.

Religion and Philosophy Collection (EBSCO)This database is an essential tool for researchers and students of theology and philosophical studies, providing a full-text source of content pertaining to the topics related to and discussed in disciplines of religion and philosophy.

Science Reference Center (EBSCO)Designed to meet every student researcher’s needs, Science Reference Center contains full text for hundreds of science magazines, journals, encyclopedias, reference books and a vast collection of images.

Small Business Reference Center (EBSCO)Small Business Reference Center offers exclusive full text for many top consumer small business reference books, as well as tools to address many small business topics. It includes business videos, a help and advice section and details on how to create business plans.

Sociological Collection (EBSCO)This full-text database offers a trusted source of sociology literature, making it an essential tool for sociology and social work researchers, professionals and students.

TOPICsearch (EBSCO)Teachers, librarians and student researchers can use this database to explore current events, social, political and economic issues, scientific discoveries and other popular topics frequently discussed in the classroom.

Very Short Introductions (Oxford University Press)Oxford’s Very Short Introductions offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects–from Islam to Sociology, Politics to Classics, and Literary Theory to History. Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume provides trenchant and provocative–yet always balanced and complete–discussions of the central issues in a given topic.

Vocational and Career Collection (EBSCO)Designed to meet a wide variety of vocational and technical research needs, this database provides full-text coverage for trade and industry-related periodicals for high schools, community colleges, trade institutions and the general public.

Vocational and Career Collection (EBSCO)We will use just two of the parts of trees, leaves and fruit, to identify the common trees of Ohio. Then, after you learn the tree’s name, you can read facts about your tree, or you can bypass the keys and go directly to the tree by name.

What’s That Snake? This program includes 30 species and subspecies of snakes that are found in Ohio. Of these 30 kinds of snakes only three are poisonous and dangerous to people and domestic animals. We also have included one species of poisonous snake that does NOT live in Ohio, the Water Moccasin. We added the Water Moccasin to our list for this program because a great many people think that it does live in Ohio.

What’s The Point? Access an interactive website designed to help users identify flint artifacts. Follow a step-by-step guide with images that will help you learn to describe the characteristics of your flint artifact, and classify it.

World Book AdvancedEngage advanced students and adults with thousands of articles, primary sources, and online books designed to support personalized learning and enhance digital citizenship. Contains up-to-the-minute access to worldwide news publications, government links from numerous countries, and multimedia reference materials. World Book Advanced uses technology to deepen comprehension, encourage collaboration between users, and create digital natives.

World Book KidsCaptivate even the most reluctant reader with unique visual engagements, rich multimedia content, and an abundance of educational games, activities, and projects. With thousands of articles, multimedia content, and a collection of biographies, World Book Kids is designed to encourage the young learner to be curious. The carefully curated content also supports STEM/STEAM instructional initiatives.

World Book StudentFascinate student researchers with thousands of articles and multimedia aligned to curriculum. Contains numerous tools to engage users in 21st-century education and blended-learning practices. World Book Student features responsive design, daily current events, assessment tools for educators, and dedicated resource guides to provide blueprints for advanced learning and college and career readiness.

World Book TimelinesWorld Book Timelines allows you to discover and map important events with accurate information powered by World Book’s wealth of knowledgeable resources. There are over 400 interactive timelines to learn from.