In September member library trustees have the opportunity to attend the MHLS workshop: "Essential Trustee Duties and Responsibilities." This workshop is designed specifically for new board members, but open to all! If you are a trustee who is looking for the basic information about your library and the role of a trustee this is the workshop for you!

Here's what people are saying about MHLS' Trustee Essentials workshop:

• I expected this to be very dry and frankly, boring. Not so. It was absolutely enlightening. Enjoyed it and learned a lot. Thanks so much!
• Excellent presentation! Very helpful to a new trustee.
• I'm more confident now!
• This was incredibly helpful and inspiring!
• Thank you for the well-organized, well-paced info.

Attendees will learn effective ways to carry out the nine essential library trustee duties and responsibilities (everything the board does either falls within one of these duties or is done in support of them.) Register online ( http://calendar.midhudson.org) for one of the following sessions: 

• Saturday, September 13th from 10:15am-12:30pm at the Kingston Library, 55 Franklin St., Kingston
  
  
• Thursday, September 18th from 5:30 - 8:00pm at the Roeliff Jansen Community Library, 9091 Route 22, Hillsdale
  
  
• Tuesday, September 23rd from 10:15am - 12:30pm at the Cairo Public Library, 15 Railroad Ave, Cairo
  
  
• Wednesday, September 24th from 5:30pm-8:00pm in the MHLS Auditorium, Poughkeepsie

Summer Reads in OverDrive: MHLS is participating in the OverDrive Summer Reads campaign, a new Readers Advisory project based on the success we saw in circulation through highlighting Gone Girl Read-Alikes this spring. These initiatives offer hand-picked titles to help users discover new favorites, leading to increased reader engagement and circulation for libraries. You'll find it in the MHLS Digital Download menu , as well as linked from a new graphic on that homepage and on rotation throughout that site.

MHLS OverDrive selectors will find a list in OverDrive Marketplace  that will populate this section.

The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation's Fund for Columbia County recently awarded three grants to Columbia County libraries: 

• The Hudson Area Library and Hudson Area Teaching Cooperative for Homeschoolers received $2,100 for the "Full Steam Ahead," program.
  
  
• The North Chatham Free Library and Malden Bridge Community Center were awarded $2,000 for projects for area seniors.
  
  
• The Roeliff Jansen Community Library and the towns of Ancram, Copake and Hillsdale's summer camps were awarded $2,500 for literacy programs.

Taming Tech Tools for Libraries Webinar (Free!): Join this webinar to explore a toolbox of 25+ free tech tools that you can use to help your library serve patron needs and to work smarter. With so many new tech tools popping up everywhere, we are all working on a wild frontier of possibilities. But how do you know which tools are worth "taming" to help you provide better library services? In this webinar, tech-tamer Kieran Hixon will unpack a toolbox of 25+ free tech tools that can help your library better engage with patrons and build digital literacy skills. From completing daily tasks to growing advocacy efforts, these web based tools can help you work smarter. When: September 18th from 2:00 - 3:00pm. Access more information and register! 

Citizens Worldwide! Your attention please for
"International Minecraft Hunger Games!"

 A week-long Minecraft Hunger Games tournament open to libraries all over the world! (November 10 - November 15, 2014) Each participating library pledges to provide:

• A name for your District (your "district" is your library; districts will be grouped regionally for competition)
• A space for your event (at least 2 hours at some point during the week up to and including International Gaming Day (IGD)
• 1 computer with browser for staff communication (a chatroom will be used to communicate competition matchups, results, and updates - and also live support!)
• 2 computers with Minecraft installed and an internet connection (or more if you want more simultaneous players in qualifying matches at your library)
• 2 Tributes to represent your District (1 boy and 1 girl! They are doing this by the book!)

Each participating District will receive:

• A dedicated, pre-configured Hunger Games Minecraft Server in the cloud to run your event! (Yep, they will configure it for you!)
• A GTSYSTEM account to keep score and handle registration
• A chance for your Tributes to win international renown with a spot in the International Bracket
• Complete instruction on moderating and running your event
• Live help from other libraries and event staff via chat during your event
• The ASTONISHED ADULATION of the YOUTH of your COMMUNITY

For more information and to register go to http://igd.ala.org/. You will be contacted with details and next steps in September. Questions or concerns? Email the team at gtsystem@aadl.org for help. This event is sponsored by the Ann Arbor District Library (MI) as part of International Gaming Day.

The latest issue of JLAMS, the Journal of the Leadership and Management Section (LAMS) of the New York Library Association, is available on the LAMS web site at: www.nyla.org/lams. In this issue you will find the very first editor's column, which focuses on discovery and curation. There is also an article on an important aspect of the marketing of public libraries that can be easily overlooked even though it is critical to our funding. Other articles areon working in the community as a liaison and "mounting databases" to websites that focuses on making the usage of databases more successful. If you are interested in submitting an article to JLAMS, please send an email to Richard Naylor, at naylor@colonielibrary.org to discuss. For the Fall issue, JLAMS plans to dedicate an entire issue to the topic of libraries and sustainability.

Part-Time Library Clerk: Olive Free Library in West Shokan, NY seeks a part-time library clerk to perform routine circulation desk duties and other tasks to support the functions of the library. Friendly, patient, reliable and customer-service-oriented, hours include Monday afternoon and evening, and every other Saturday. 10-15 hours per week with possible additional hours. Computer proficiency a must. College student or college graduate preferred. Priority given to applicants residing in Town of Olive, Shandaken, Hurley, or Marbletown. Starting pay $10 per hour. Please send letter of interest and resume to: Katie Scott-Childress at director@olivefreelibrary.org. Applications accepted until position is filled.