Jessamyn West (librarian)

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For the Quaker author, see Jessamyn West (writer).

Jessamyn Charity West (born September 5, 1968) is a librarian and a former member of the American Library Association Council. She is a self-described "anti-capitalist" who as of 2006 operates the blog librarian.net. She also operates the websites jessamyn.com and jessamyn.info and is a moderator on MetaFilter. In 2002 Library Journal identified her as a "mover and shaker."

Librarian.net's slogan is "putting the rarin' back in librarian since 1993." West characterizes librarian.net as generally "anti-censorship, pro-freedom of speech, pro-porn (for lack of a better way to explain that we don't find the naked body shameful), antiglobalization, anti-outsourcing, anti-Dr. Laura, pro-freak, pro-social responsibility and just generally pro-information and in favor of the profession getting a better image."

Wired describes her as "on the front lines in battling the USA PATRIOT Act," particularly the provisions that allow warrantless searches of library records. The act not only prohibits libraries from notifying the subjects of such searchs, it prohibits them from disclosing to the public whether any such searches have been made. In protest, West created a number of notices that libraries can post which she suggests are "technically legal." One of them, for example, reads: "The FBI has not been here. Watch very closely for the removal of this sign." The Vermont Library Association provided copies of this sign to every public library in Vermont.

West was one of about three dozen "credentialed bloggers" at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, the first time that such an event issued press credentials to bloggers. A New York Times article on the increasing role bloggers are playing the world of journalism quoted her as saying, "I've been trying to make the librarian voice in politics stronger and louder."

West is the co-editor of Revolting Librarians Redux, a 2003 follow-up to a 1972 book entitled Revolting Librarians. Reviewers called the original book (compiled by different editors) "highly readable fun" and "a statement of discontent with almost every aspect of the American library establishment." The new book is in the spirit of its predecessor and includes among its contents new essays by ten of the contributors to the earlier volume.

West is not related to Jessamyn West, the novelist. In response to a query, she said,

"If you ask my parents, they'll say 'we just liked the name Jessamyn, but we knew about Jessamyn West, but it's coincidence that our last name happened to be West which made your name the same as hers.' So I'm not named after her, but neither is it coincidence."

[edit] Books edited by Jessamyn West

• Roberto, Katia and Jessamyn West (eds) (2003): Revolting Librarians Redux: Radical Librarians Speak Out, McFarland & Company; ISBN 0-7864-1608-4
• Jessamyn West (ed) (2004) Digital Versus Non-Digital Reference: Ask a Librarian Online and Offline, Haworth Information Press; ISBN 0-7890-2442-X

[edit] References

• "Year of the Blog? Web Diarists Are Now Official Members of Convention Press Corps", Jennifer 8. Lee, New York Times, July 26, 2004.
• Jessamyn West, 2005, personal communication: explanation of name. (Similar material available on her websites).

[edit] External links

• Don't Mess with Librarians Wired profile of Jessamyn West.
• FAQ Jessamyn West's FAQ. Date of birth; self-describes as anti-capitalist.
• Jessamyn West: Freelance Librarian—The Ultimate Antistereotype Library Journal article naming her a "mover and shaker"
• A Librarian Blogger at the DNC West's article about her experience
• Who's blogging the convention, article listing the "credentialed bloggers" at the 2004 DNC.
• Revolting Librarians Contents of the 1972 volume, which was apparently not copyrighted, including the cover.