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Jessamyn West
PO Box 345
Randolph VT 05060

802-234-8910
jessamyn@gmail.com
linkedin | jessamyn.info | librarian.net | jessamyn.com
..:CURRENTLY:..
Technologist, activist, educator, writer.

Flickr Foundation -- Community Manager [2023 - present]
Vermont Mutual Aid Society -- Consultant [2017 - present]

..:WORKING:..
Computers in Libraries -- Columnist [2008 - 2023]
Randolph Technical Career Center -- Community Technology Librarian [2005 - 2020]
University of Hawaii LIS Program -- Adjunct Lecturer [2016 - 2018]
Harvard University Library Innovation Lab -- Research Fellow [2016 - 2017]
Internet Archive/Open Library -- Project Manager & Library Liaison [2014- 2017]
Medium.com's The Message -- Writer [2014 - 2015]
MetaFilter.com -- Community Manager/Director of Ops. [2005 - 2014, 2020-2021]
Tunbridge Public Library -- Technology Librarian [2008 - 2010]
Rutland Free Library -- Outreach Librarian [2003-2005]
Educational Testing Service -- CA Achievement Test Scorer/Scoring Leader [2002-2004]
Google Answers -- Researcher [2002]
Speakeasy Network -- Support Tech/Knowledge Base Manager [2000-2001]
Gates Center for Technology Access -- Educational Researcher [1999]
Shoreline Community College -- Reference Librarian [1998-1999]

..:WRITING:..
books
Without a Net - Librarians Bridging the Digital Divide. Libraries Unlimited. [2011]
"Technophobia, Technostress, and Technorealism" chapter in Information Tomorrow: Reflections on Technology and the Future of Public and Academic Libraries. Information Today, Inc. [2007].
"What Do Librarians Do All Day?" Introduction to A Day in the Life: Career Options in Library & Information Science. Libraries Unlimited, [2007].
Editor, Digital versus Non-Digital Reference: Ask a Librarian Online and Offline , simultaneously published as The Reference Librarian, Vol. 41:85 [2004, Haworth Press]
"You Want Me to Put What Where? Freelancing Librarianship as Job, Hobby, and Passion." chapter in The Librarian's Career Guidebook, Scarecrow Press [2004].
Co-editor Revolting Librarians Redux McFarland Publishers [2003].

selected articles
Advice for the Accidental Community Manager The Coral Project, January 2016
How to (try to) Lie With Wikipedia: The manufactured history of neckbeard-shaming The Message, April 2015
Google’s slow fade with librarians, The Message February 2015
"Open Source Software On The Desktop," Library Technology Reports, May/June 2007.
"Saving Digital History," Library Journal's NetConnect, 15 April 2007.
"MetaFilter: Going Your Way" Library Journal, October 15, 2006.
"The Information Poor & The Information Don't Care Small Libraries And The Digital Divide" Counterpoise, January 2006.
"Commentary: A Librarian Blogger at the DNC" LLRX, September 2004.
"Those Darned Users! How to serve your users without sacrificing safety, privacy or your sanity" WebJunction, September 2004.
"User-Centered Web Design as an Effective Outreach Tool" Marketing Library Services, Sept/Oct 2004.
"No, YOU check THIS out. Librarians respond to the USA PATRIOT Act" Clamor Magazine, Sept/Oct 2004.
"Making a Library Web Site Part I, The Basics" Vermont Library Association News, August 2004.
"Free as in Tibet: ibiblio's Cultural Cultivation & Community Creation" OCLC Systems & Services, May/June 2004.
"Rural Library Compensation, The Vermont Initiative" ALA-APA's Library Worklife, February 2004.
"The Librarian is IN, and online!" Computers in Libraries, Oct 2003.
"Democracy is Dead and I Don't Feel Too Well Myself" Vital Source, March 2003.
"Google Answers Back or How to Become an Ex Google Answers Researcher" Searcher Magazine, January 2003.
"Information for Sale, My Experience With Google Answers" Searcher Magazine, October 2002.
"On The Fly Reference" American Libraries, May 2002. [reprinted in The Whole Library Handbook 4]
"Shaking Things Up: Radical and Progressive Librarianship", Ex Libris, Nov 3, 2000.

..:CIVICS:..
Justice of the Peace, Town of Randolph (elected) [2013 - present]
Board Member, Vermont Humanities Council [2018 - 2021]
Conservation Commission, Town of Randolph (appointed) [2018 - 2024]
..:EDUCATION:..
MLib. from the UW Information School, 1996. Specialist in Internet and bibliographic instruction.
B.A. Hampshire College, 1990 -- Linguistics/Semantics
..:PROFESSIONAL & MISC.:..
American Library Association, Chapter Councilor [2020 - 2024]
Webmaster, Vermont Library Association [2004 - present]
Wikimedia Foundation Advisory Board Member [2007 - 2017]
Member, American Library Association [1993-1999, 2002-2007, 2020 - 2024]
ALA Council, At Large Councilor [2003 - 2006]
Student vice-president & president of library school [1993-1994, 1995-1996]

Flickr Foundation -- Community Manager
Worked with the Flickr Foundation to help revive and reinvigorate the Flickr Commons program. Managed social media and other online interactions with Flickr Commons partners and brought in new members. Wrote con
Vermont Mutual Aid Society -- Consultant
Worked with clients such as Wikimedia Foundation, Internet Archive, Github, Glitch and MLTSHP for community engagement work.
Library Innovation Lab -- Research Fellow
I continued my research into digitial divide and digital inclusion issues with the assistance of the resources from Harvard's Library Innovation Lab.
University of Hawaii -- Lecturer
Taught a Tools for Community Advocacy class for University of Hawai'i at Manoa LIS
Open Library -- Librarian
As the project lead at the Internet Archive's Open Library project. I supported an international group of users with ebook lending and QA for the product as well as maintained the FAQ and all support and social media systems.
Medium.com's The Message -- Writer
I was part of a writing collective and wrote multiple editorial articles monthly on library and technology topics.
Randolph Technical Career Center -- Community technology librarian
I created a series of classes and drop-in times using community technology resources to teach basic skills computer classes to area residents. I also worked with area librarians to strengthen their technology offerings and help support and maintain their library computers.
Tunbridge Public Library -- Assistant librarian
I am a part time librarian at the Tunbridge Public Library. We serve a population of roughly 1000 people. I am responsible for maintaining the four public and staff computers and automating the library (we are going from a card catalog to Koha).
MetaFilter.com -- Moderator and Director of Operations
I was the Director of Operations of the popular online community MetaFilter.com. I managed a staff of six, developed policies and procedures for community management and maintained the FAQ and the offsite wiki.
Computers in Libraries -- Columnist
I wrote a bi-monthly column called Tech Tips for Computers in Libraries magazine outlining simple technological advice and strategies for small and tech-poor libraries.
Rutland Free Library -- Outreach librarian Rutland, VT
I designed and implemented library programs outside the library, gave tours, and taught classes for target populations of seniors and teens. I also designed and maintained the library's website.
Educational Testing Service -- test scorer/leader Seattle, WA
I graded the California Achievement test essays for ETS on an ongoing temporary basis. I worked to tight specifications and evaluated essays on several criteria. I was one of the faster scorers, scoring upwards of 120 essays in each four hour period. I was promoted to scoring leader after one year.
Google Answers -- researcher Seattle, WA
I was one of the early researchers when Google Answers was still in beta. I answered questions asked by customers via an online interface and gave feedback on the beta software that we were using. Maintained a researcher rating of 4.5 stars [out of five] over seven months of work.
Speakeasy Network -- mail support technician Seattle, WA
I was the first full-time support mail handler at Speakeasy Networks. I managed a team of three to five mail support techs in answering email with a 24 hour or less turnaround time. Support inquiries ranged from very simple tech questions to complicated DSL routing and configuration issues. I wrote 40 form letters that were emailed out on a variety of support issues and also proofread and helped maintain the support web site and the support knowledge base entries.
The Gates Center for Technology Access -- educational researcher Seattle, WA
As a researcher I did brief and lengthy research projects using the Internet, library reference tools and phone interviews. I worked with a quick turnaround time and prepared reports on educational topics using statistics, personal statements, market research, and online databases.
The Foundry -- interim director Seattle, WA
As an interim director, I kept The Foundry viable while we searched for a regular director. I administered and maintained programs, I wrote and received grants, and implemented office procedures and systems to keep the Foundry running smoothly while undergoing a transition in management.
Shoreline Community College -- reference librarian Seattle, WA
I worked at the reference desk helping students find library materials to assist them in writing papers and answering questions. SCC has a large percentage of foreign/ESL students which presented a special challenge. I assisted in helping them locate materials, use the online databases, and access materials on the Internet. I regularly taught library classes in the use of search engines and the Proquest magazine index. I was also responsible for eye catching book displays and updating the web site.

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Last updated 11dec24
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