Category: libraries

Oral testimony for the Vermont data privacy and online surveillance bill

Posted on by jessamyn

a handwritten document with some red wax seals on top of it.

I was invited to give testimony in front of this committee about S.71, An act relating to consumer data privacy and online surveillance.

Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development (Friday, May 1, 2026 – S.71 – Room 35 – 2:40-ish)

Jessamyn West – Library Technologist – Kimball Public Library

Thank you

In addition to my library work, I do public speaking at library conferences and have taught a workshop on Practical Internet Privacy all over the US for the past ten years. This is based on what I’ve learned in my 20+ year history of helping people with their technology problems and questions in a library setting. I can help anyone to use a computer better.

I’m here today to give you some background on what an average- or low-skills user experiences when they use technology. I am an aggressive supporter of increased privacy protection for all technology users and I think S.71 will help with that. Here is why. Continue reading “Oral testimony for the Vermont data privacy and online surveillance bill”

social media is real life, make it accessible

Posted on by jessamyn

Happy National Library Week. I have spent the first day of this nominal holiday on a self-appointed task of telling library advocates on social media that if they’re not using alt text with their images, they’re not actually supporting the full mission of libraries which is to serve everyone. You can join me. For anyone who shares the ALA poster, here’s a Bluesky-length reply that you can just copy and paste.

Alt text: A colorful illustration of the front of a library with a librarian waving to community members outside. A banner over the library reads "FIND YOUR JOY!" Logos for ALA and Library Champions in top right. Text below the illustration reads "Celebrate NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK, April 19-25, 2026" Continue reading “social media is real life, make it accessible”

2025 in Libraries

Posted on by jessamyn

interior view of the Groton Public Library wa warm and inviting library with a comfy armchair and a nice rocking chair. It's decorated in purple and green tones which feels like it might not work together but totally does.

Six different libraries besides my local this year. Some of this was for work! It’s been a weird year at my library, a lot of staff changeover and bumpiness but overall some positive new developments.

  • Kimball (81) – I worked here nearly every week, did a few sub shifts and just came by to get warm and/or visit.
  • Hartness/Randolph (7) – Decided last year to spend more time here and it was a good decision.
  • Rochester (1) – I did one drop-in shift here which seems to be my pattern
  • Groton (1) – Pictured above, gave a talk. Not well attended but was so glad to get to go back to this library where I spent a lot of time when I was first in Vermont
  • Aldrich in Barre (1) – Stopped by while I was picking up free COVID tests at the state library
  • State Library in Barre (1) – Got some free COVID tests
  • Randall in Stow MA (1) – Was visiting my sister and we checked out the temporary library in her town while her main library is getting a serious renovation

Previous years: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and some reviews from 2003.

2024 in Libraries

Posted on by jessamyn

a foot in a sock that is yellow with thin black stripes and it meant to evoke a checkiout card in a book. It's standing on a tiled floor with black and white colored hexagons.

Totally a homebody this year; seventy library visits and most of them within a half mile of my house. I liked working at my library. I didn’t feel the need to go to other libraries with my free time. Amusing side note, I use Daytum to track my library visits and I have a display that show’s “this year’s” visits. However, I didn’t change the display over LAST year and somehow didn’t really notice (I mostly just add visits, don’t look at the pie chart). All fixed now!

  • Kimball (67) – I worked here nearly every week and did a few sub shifts.
  • Rochester (1) – I did one drop-in shift here just like last time.
  • Kilton/Lebanon NH (1) – Parked here and took a hike out behind it, there are some neat trails.
  • Hartness/Randolph (1) – I continue to think that I should go by this place more often, it’s such a nice library.

Previous years: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and some reviews from 2003.

2023 in Libraries

Posted on by jessamyn

A banned books display showing the many different books which were banned last year and the reason for their banning

Not a big year for libraries. I didn’t go to any new ones! This was partly because I had a regular shift at my own, and am also sticking to my mostly-no-travel policy.

  • Kimball (79) – Most weeks I worked here one day and I stopped by a lot of other times, for sub shifts or just to get a book.
  • Rochester (1) – I did one drop-in shift here.
  • Kilton/Lebanon NH (1) – Jim and I stopped by when we were in NH. It’s a neat place, has a cool garden and place to hang out behind it that I had never been to.
  • St. Johnsbury Athenaeum (1) – Should have stopped by her more often since my dentist is across the street but I rarely felt like it before or after and now the friend I had there doesn’t work there anymore..
  • Hartness/Randolph (1) – I got some books out. I should go by this place more often, it’s such a nice library.

Previous years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and some reviews from 2003.