I posted this comment over on this idea as well but since the two are related and overlap a bit: https://ideas.iii.com/forums/951766-vega-discover/suggestions/51463579-cookies

It has become a true source of frustration between staff and patrons that the cookie preferences are so hidden and do not persist on both the Kiosk sites AND the regular ones. I don't understand why the preference window doesn't appear by default if the rest of the site is unusable without accepting or closing out. Is the intent that by hitting the X, users are opting out of *all* cookies? If so, why are there "essential," non-negotiable cookies at all?

Also, we've had the cookie preferences, despite accepting them, refuse to persist across single sessions and would grey out the screen every time a new search was done or login performed. This wasn't the case (as much) a month ago too. It's infuriating.

I also do not understand why, on the kiosk mode, which is meant to be anonymous and used on computers which are built to refresh (and thus clear cookies,) the option has to be given to allow patrons to opt-into tracking. By default, this version should be Essentials (i.e. the non-optional stuff) only. Why is it even a consideration for the kiosk, which is meant for a transitory environment usually within a library, to have any additional tracking to opt-into? The entire cookie process needs a revamp to be clearer, easier to use, and made so patron's actual suggestions

Hear, hear. We hear all the time from patrons that our website is broken due to this very poor UX.

For the six months since we switched to Polaris we've been getting multiple calls a week from patrons who are experiencing the same problem at home, as well as complaints from patrons trying to use the OPACs inside the library. I don't know why the cookies notification can't be made more prominent (like the one at the link below: https://my.onetrust.com/s/article/UUID-2b6cc670-059c-5342-275c-4a7d8da5630e?language=en_US) or why the screen must be grayed out.

This has been an issue reported by our library staff, as well.

This is extremely important. For years libraries have been having problems with our catalog computers for this. Now that the idea for OPACs to not have this popup was closed, this idea is even more critical. If this is such a universal complaint, then the UX design is flawed. Please do better with it.

Many people don't see the small cookie banner at the bottom of the screen, and think the catalog is broken because they can't perform a search.

Yes, this is a huge issue for us even after all this time. Having the cookie prompt more obvious is something we really need. We have to help patrons with this problem multiple times a week.

Just thought I'd add that the official Onetrust site has a bunch of different configuration options available:
https://my.onetrust.com/s/article/UUID-2b6cc670-059c-5342-275c-4a7d8da5630e?language=en_US

Even the Vega and Polaris product boards have a more visible cookie banner.

Patron are missing the banner at the bottom. Believing that the website has crashed or frozen.

The banner can easily be missed by patrons coming to the catalog for the first time and/or from an embedded search result. Patrons are then frustrated that the item they want is right there, but cannot click the request button.