Introduction
Hello all! My name is Melody Murray, and I live in Jacksonville, FL. Jacksonville is where I am from originally, and although I daydream about moving elsewhere, that does not seem likely to happen any time soon! There are some wonderful gems here in Jacksonville, however. Such as the Cummer Art Museum, as well as the MOSH (Museum of Science and History). I also enjoy our proximity to St. Augustine!
List of some of my special interests:
- My cats (Steve, Cookie, and Mia)
- “The X-Files”
- Reading (naturally)
- Exploring/Dilly Dallying
- Learning French (as you can see by my title!)
Professional Background
I currently work with the Jacksonville Public Library as a “Customer Experience Associate” in the Youth Department at one of the many branches within the system (21 to be exact). This is my last semester in the MSI program at FSU, and I look forward to graduating in May and becoming a Children’s Librarian with JPL.
Course Expectations
I could tell from our first class meeting that I am going to be developing a lot of new skills throughout this course! I have minimal to no experience with digital media production, and I look forward to expanding my skill set.
Ça va ? Hello, Melody! I enjoyed reading your introduction, especially your appreciation for Jacksonville’s cultural hotspots such as the Cummer Art Museum and MOSH—those kinds of places really do shape how a city feels. I related to that because sometimes, when I feel Miami is lacking, it’s really a reflection of where my focus is rather than the city itself, in much the same way you described. I also connected with what you said about imagining life somewhere else; I spent years wanting to live outside of Miami, and when I finally did, I realized the grass isn’t always greener. I’m allergic to cats, but I still completely understand being fascinated by a pet and the role they play in your life. When you mentioned The X-Files, it made me think of a friend who once told me I looked like Scully—I was never into the show myself, but that comment stuck with me and still makes me laugh. I’m very interested in French culture and am currently listening to an abridged audiobook of In Search of Lost Time; just yesterday I was also watching a French film adaptation with English subtitles. Like you, I’m coming into this course without a strong digital media background, so I’m looking forward to learning alongside you this semester.
Hey Melody! First of all, I love cats with humans names. I have a tuxedo cat who I am obsessed named Rosie. She never leaves my side and shows affection by biting and wrestling. French is a wonderful language. I studied it for 4 years in middle school and high school, but I wish practiced speaking it more, because when I went to France two years ago, I wasn’t able to carry a conversation with anyone. Every now and then, I love to go through brain and find random vocabulary I still remember (right now, I’m thinking about bibliotheque – library, and pomme de terre – potato!)
Hi Melody,
WOOHOO for this being your last semester. I am also in my final semester in the program. How exciting to be a Children’s Librarian after you graduate. I am happily working in the school libraries, but if I decide in the future to work in a public library, that’s where I’ll land.
I love that you call exploring “dilly dallying”. That’s honestly the best way to explore! I am an explorer at heart. My husband and I lived in a lot of places before we settled down in ND. I’ve found that some of the best memories come from just wandering around, trying new things, and seeing where life takes you.