Jessamyn West
PO Box 345
Randolph VT 05060
802-234-8910
jessamyn@gmail.comPO Box 345
Randolph VT 05060
802-234-8910
jessamyn.info | librarian.net | jessamyn.com
..:CURRENTLY:..
Technologist, activist, educator, writer.
University of Hawaii LIS Program --
Adjunct Lecturer [2016 - present]
Computers in Libraries --
Columnist [2008 - present]
Randolph Technical Career Center --
Community Technology Librarian [2005 -
present]
Vermont Mutual Aid Society --
Consultant [2017 -
present]
..:WORKING:..
Harvard University Library Innovation Lab --
Research Fellow [2016 - 2017]
Internet Archive/Open Library --
Project Manager & Library Liaison [5/14 -
11/17]
Medium.com's The Message --
Writer [12/14 - 8/15]
MetaFilter.com --
Community Manager/Director of Ops. [1/05 -
5/14]
Tunbridge Public Library --
Technology Librarian [9/08 - 1/10]
Rutland Free Library -- Outreach
Librarian [9/03 - 4/05]
Educational Testing Service -- CA Achievement Test Scorer/Scoring Leader [3/02 - 1/04]
Google Answers -- Researcher [5/02 - 11/02]
Speakeasy Network -- Support Tech/Knowledge Base Manager [1/00 - 1/01]
Gates Center for Technology Access -- Educational Researcher
[6/99 - 8/99]
The Foundry -- Interim Director [1/99 - 5/99]
Shoreline Community College -- Reference Librarian
[9/98 - 6/99]
Amazon.com/Procast/Iris Libby -- Freelance Researcher
[9/97 - present]
Seattle Public Library -- VISTA volunteer [9/96 - 12/96]
Seattle Dept. of Housing and Human Services --
Family Center Technology Project Coordinator [8/95 - 6/98]
Natural Science Library/U.W. -- Graduate Reference Assistant [3/94 - 8/94, 9/95 - 9/96]
Freedom Forum News Library -- Temporary Associate Librarian [3/95 - 6/95]
Center for Independent Journalism -- Internet
Instructor [11/94 - 6/95]
Princeton Review -- Instructor [2/91 - 8/94]
..:WRITING:..
booksWithout 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.
educational
Contributor to:
- The Encyclopedia of the Republican Party and The Encyclopedia of the Democratic Party [5,000 words, 1996 link]
- Encyclopedia of Women in American Politics [4,000 words, 1997]
- Encyclopedia of Religion in American Politics [8,000 words, 1998]
- Encyclopedia of Minorities in American Politics [7,500 words, 1998]
- Encyclopedia of Media in American Politics [850 words, 1999]
- Encyclopedia of Corruption in American Politics [3,500 words 1999 writing sample]
Newsletter co-editor, Social Responsibilities Round
Table of the American Library Association [97 - 00]
Columnist Alki Magazine/Washington Library Assoc. [writing sample] [94 - 95]
Editor of GSLIS newspaper The Sojourner [93 - 94]
..:PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:..
Wikimedia Foundation Advisory Board Member [2007 - present]
Column co-editor "From Picas to
Pixels" Serials
Review [06-07]
Basic computer skills instructor at Seattle Public Library
[97 - 98]
Reference Librarian at the Internet Public Library [96 - 00]
Editorial Board Member of
The Katherine Sharp Review [95 - 96]
Odegaard Undergraduate Library/U.W. -- Bibliographic Instructor [93 - 94]
..:EDUCATION:..
MLIS from the UW Information School, 1995. Specialist in Internet
and bibliographic instruction.
B.A. Hampshire College, 1990 -- Linguistics/Semantics
..:PROFESSIONAL & MISC.:..
Webmaster, Vermont Library Association 2004 - present
Student president of library school 95 - 6, vice-president, 93 - 4
Member, American Library Association, 93 - 99, 02 - 07
ALA Council, At Large Councilor, 2003-2006
Vermont Mutual Aid Society -- Consultant
Took on larger clients such as Wikimedia Foundation and MLTSHP LLC 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
I teach 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 users with ebook lending and doing QA
for the product as well as maintained the FAQ and all support 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 mentor
Randolph, VT
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 Tunbridge VT
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 -- online community moderator
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 write 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.
Procast -- freelance researcher Seattle, WA
I did a variety of short term research projects and presentations on topics
such as market research, finding high level employees with specific skill sets, and
tracking down obscure and hard to find information for a headhunting firm.
I worked under tight deadlines and used Internet resources for research as
well as the library.
Seattle Public Library --VISTA volunteer Seattle,
WA
As the Instructional Technology Specialist, I developed and maintained a
program to teach computer skills to people who were learning English as a
second language or had not gotten their GED yet. I designed and taught
classes in
Internet skills, word processing, keyboarding, and basic computer skills.
I also developed web pages for use in these classes. I taught training
sessions for other service workers in the uses of
Internet technology to keep abreast of current issues in their fields.
Seattle Department of Housing and Human Services -- Family Center Technology
Project Coordinator Seattle, WA
I worked independently to set up computers and install software at
seven Family Support Centers in Seattle.
My job involved training staff and clients in the use of multiple software
packages primarily geared towards family learning activities and job training
skills.
I taught classes to children and adults in various computer skills. After graduating, I was employed with the city as a consultant which also involved
troubleshooting and maintaining staff computers as well as public computers.
I also equipped some of the centers with web pages and email accounts.
Natural Science Library/U.W. -- Graduate Reference Assistant Seattle, WA
I worked independently on nights and weekends at the Natural Sciences Library
reference
desk answering reference questions and instructing patrons how to use the
library and local and Internet databases. I also designed and coded some of their web
pages.
Freedom Forum News Library -- Temporary Associate Librarian Bucharest, Romania I assisted in setting up and opening a news-oriented special library in Bucharest Romania. Prior to a local librarian being hired,
I was responsible for unpacking, sorting, and shelving incoming books and serials. I also set up and created help
sheets for the CD-ROM databases. Once the
library opened, I worked answering reference questions and providing instruction on the computers, as well as defining the job description and initiating a search for a local librarian.
Center for Independent Journalism -- Internet Research Methods InstructorBucharest, Romania I taught Internet research methods to local Romanian journalists and assisted in setting up a local Internet node. Since local
Internet connections were erratic, I taught low-tech access methods such as using gopher, mailservers, archie and lynx as well as higher-tech methods such as Netscape and Mosaic.
Visual Education Corporation -- Software Reviewer Seattle, WA Wrote software review articles for upcoming Wilson book reviewing reference works. I tested and evaluated Microsoft Encarta 1994, Microsoft Bookshelf
1994 and Grolier's Encyclopedia. Articles were written to rigid specifications and included explanation and analysis of each of the works' features including search engines, interface, user help and documentation.
Odegaard Undergraduate Library/U.W. -- Bibliographic Instructor Seattle, WA As part of a bibliographic instruction class, I taught library labs for undergraduate students. These labs had five to twenty-five students at
a time and included information on how to search for information using the on-line public access catalog, available databases and Internet resources. Some labs were linked to assignments in other classes and would be tailored
to primarily cover specific resources. I also created and used handouts to better explain search techniques such as Boolean operators and search limiting.
Alki Magazine-- Columnist Seattle, WA Wrote a student column for the Washington Library Association's magazine, Alki, in an attempt to forge a link between library students and library
professionals in Washington state.
Princeton Review -- Instructor Seattle, WA Instructed students in classes and individual tutoring on how to improve their scores on standardized tests. Classes taught included SAT, GRE, LSAT
and TOEFL as well as vocabulary-building classes. Topics covered included algebra, geometry, reading comprehension, logical reasoning, grammar and memory techniques.
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