Hello everyone! My name is Liv (she/her) Sampogna, I come to you today from my very sleepy writer’s desk in Roanoke, Virginia. I settled here after attending Roanoke College, from which I graduated with a BS in environmental studies and creative writing in 2021.
I love visiting libraries when I travel! I also need a new film camera.
If my life were a Muppet movie, I would be played by a lost and troubled Gonzo who, having no idea what planet she belongs on after college, moves in with her stranger of a roommate, Fozzy Bear (my dear friend Audrey). Luckily for Gonzo, Fozzy Bear has already found her life path as a Librarian, and enlightens Gonzo about all that it means to be a Librarian, Gonzo quickly realizes this is where she belongs and expresses this epiphany in song. Gonzo would first be accepted by a library down in Fraggle Rock where, though she has a great deal of fun and finds her footing, doesn’t find herself able to relate well enough to the cave-dwellings Fraggles. After earning enough experience, Gonzo begins working for the library on whatever planet he’s from, where he meets the rest of the Muppet’s cast, all of whom play a part in Gonzo’s library journey!
I am realizing now I don’t want to make the whole post in that format because it’s very discombobulating. I’ve been working as a Youth Librarian for Roanoke Public Libraries since 2022 and though I had never realized I was a kids-and-teens-person, I’ve definitely found my calling! I do a couple of Storytimes every week with wildly played-out themes, I have a group of artistic teens who started off as a “Zine Club” and now is just generally an art club, and I do many other miscellaneous things! This is my fourth semester at FSU, I’m very grateful that my system allows me to work as a capital “L” Librarian in the mean time.
A puppet stage I made for a pizza party-themed storytime!
Outside of librarianship, I also work at a historic theatre in my neighborhood as a bartender which is, unsurprisingly, a very fun gig. I love to read, watch YouTube videos about books, and spend hours on my book logging app, please feel free to add me on StoryGraph! I love collaging, painting, sewing, writing and unabashedly love (slow) fashion. As to why I’m excited about this class, I feel like digital media allows everyone to be an artist, as well as for the collaging of different mediums (visual, audio) which brings ease to expressing bigger ideas. Also, because digital media is so widely shareable, nurturing digital art/artists makes the internet a more inspiring and creative space. Speaking of, has anyone ever used Are.na? It’s sort of like Pinterest but for research: you can connect links, journals, videos, quotes and pictures to different topics (“channels”).
Hi everyone! My name is Mariah Fuertes, it’s lovely to meet you all.
I’m a born and raised Florida native. I’ve lived in three different major cities: Tampa, Fort. Lauderdale, and now, Orlando. My husband and I enjoy the Central Florida area, however, every now and then I’m tempted to move North in order to experience the changing of the seasons.
My daughter (left) and I for Halloween 2024.
Currently, I wear two hats: I’m a part-time Library Assistant and a Reference Intern at Valencia College. I love what I do and feel fortunate enough to work in an environment that not only supports my career growth, but allows me to balance motherhood graciously. I have an almost two-year-old daughter who keeps me on my toes. She’s my pocket-sized best friend. My days off are usually spent playing with baby dolls, singing Ms. Rachel songs, and reading piles of books together.
I began my MSI journey in Fall of 2023 and will be graduating this Summer in 2025. I’m excited to begin my career as a librarian post graduation, as well as have the opportunity to (hopefully) expand upon my other interests/academic skills. I also have a BA in English from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Full Sail University. My goal is to either be a Youth Services or Academic Librarian.
In my spare time, I’m also an aspiring author of fantasy and literary fiction. I’m convinced that escaping reality is the best coping mechanism, as I’d much rather get lost in a floating castle than pay for a therapist. As a writer, my goal is to craft stories that challenge the unimaginable, and make even the most skeptical believe in the subtle magic of everyday life.
Little me, circa 2001.
When I’m not editing story drafts, you can find me binge watching Bravo TV, practicing beginner ballet, cozy gaming on my Switch, or strolling down Main Street at Walt Disney World.
I enjoy digital media creation, and have studied different variations of it in the past! I’m looking forward to learning about new programs, tips & tricks, and overall gaining some insight on how to properly incorporate digital content into the LIS field.
Hello new friends! My name is Lora Thaxton! I am from Wakulla, a small county south of Tallahassee. I am studying Information Sciences, which is really exciting for me because my mom graduated from this program (here at FSU) in 2008!
Me at the FSU vs. LSU game September 4th, 2022
The coolest thing about me is my after-school hobbies! I am one of the 420 world-renowned Marching Chiefs. I play the mellophone (which is a marching French horn). I love being a Marching Chief, because of the friendships and fun we have. One of my favorite memories was getting to go to New Orleans, Louisiana with the band as a first-year member. This trip was exciting for all kinds of reasons: being in a college band for the first time, being in NOLA without my parents, and being surrounded by friends. The trip and location itself was incredibly special to me, because my dad (a second generation Marching Chief) asked my mom (a first generation Marching Chief) out on a date in the Super Dome where we would play LSU. The night after the game, my friends and I went on a crusade for ice cream (and spoons, which are harder to find than you might think) while the entire French Quarter was celebrating. We finished the night in our hotel room, sitting on the floor eating our ice cream and watching ESPN play our ending field goal block as one of their top ten plays.
My parents in 1994 at the Sugar Bowl when FSU played UF
When I am not representing the school in my Chiefs attire, I am usually found teaching. I graduated in Spring 2024 with my bachelor’s from FSU-Teach Mathematics. Right now, I am a sub for a 7th grade reading class at my middle school in Wakulla. I love what I do, and I am so excited to begin teaching on my own one day, whether that be reading or math. I am getting this degree so I can one day pursue a librarian job at a middle school and become ALA accredited.
Honestly, when looking at this class, I was a little nervous. I have little to no experience in doing any sort of editing. I am excited to learn how to edit because it will allow me to better my own skills for when I teach and create lessons. Librarians, especially those who work in schools, have to have many talents that they can use to get people excited about books.
I cannot wait to meet all of you and get to know you within this class!
Hi everyone! My name is Caitlin and I am excited to meet you all as well as learn and grow together this semester. I am originally from Florida. I spent my childhood and middle school years in Miami. I moved with my family to the small town of Lake Placid, FL before I started high school. Lake Placid feels more like my hometown. After attending a small college in North Carolina where I obtained my BS in English language education, I moved abroad. I taught English outside of Madrid, Spain for a couple of years. I married my Welsh husband and we lived in Cardiff, Wales, UK for over ten years. I loved living in Wales – it is such a beautiful and interesting place! If you ever have the chance to visit, I recommend checking out Tenby or Hay-on-Wye. Over a year ago my husband, son, and I moved back to Lake Placid to be closer to my parents. While we definitely miss Wales, we are enjoying small town life and the Florida sunshine.
I am now a year into pursuing my MSI, and I am hoping to graduate Summer 2026. Previously, I have worked as a teacher and then as an event/project coordinator for a youth non-profit organization. I am currently doing some freelance work while staying home with my 4 year old son. However, my goal is to work in a public library and I am actively looking for positions.
When I am not playing cars or legos with my son or working, I am an avid reader. I read widely across most fiction genres, but I also love talking about books and am always eager to learn what people are reading. If we were meeting face to face, I would ask you what you’re reading currently and what is one of your favorite books. If you’re interested in seeing what I’m reading, you are welcome to check out my StoryGraph account. I’m not always the best at writing reviews, but I do track all my reads.
For the first few years I worked for the non-profit, I regularly had to create various digital media, predominantly graphics or images to use on social media or flyers. I did not have any experience when I started, so I taught myself as I went and it became one of my favorite aspects of my job. My role changed and I did not get to create as much in my final years there, and I missed this creative aspect of my job. I am excited to get to try these skills again and hopefully grow them this semester. I am not an artist, but I enjoy bringing together different digital elements to create an image or graphic. I am eager to learn more about video and audio editing as those are areas I do not have much experience in.
I am really looking forward to this class! Here’s to a great semester everyone!
Hello, all! My name is Craig Moore. I’ll start off with a quick story. During the final semester of my Fine Arts degree, I was publicly asked by a professor of engineering to define ‘Art.’ Much to the chagrin of my peers, I offered a brief, admittedly ostentatious, response to a deceptively simple question:
“Art is asking questions.”
While my answer garnered some well-deserved eyerolls, it’s a definition I wholeheartedly stand by. Beyond any technical skills or entrepreneurial prowess developed during my three years in FSU’s Studio Art program, the ability to pose and critically analyze complex problems through various lenses was the most valuable expertise I walked away with.
I affectionately reference this anecdote because it lends itself to almost everything I do. I’m beginning my second semester in the MSIT program having completed the aforementioned Studio Art program at FSU last spring. My primary disciplines are video art and virtual environment design, where I combine found and created video with 3D photogrammetry scans and projection mapping.
Photogrammetry scanned selfie
I live in Tallahassee where I’ve worked on-campus at the FSU Innovation Hub for just over two years as a Computer Technologies Intern, subsequently as an Area Specialist, and most currently as a Graduate Assistant. Across these roles, I’ve developed a passion for connecting researchers, faculty, and students with technologies, concepts, and resources to expand and enrich their myriad creative pursuits and research methodologies. It’s also within these roles at the Innovation Hub where I’ve been able to hone my critical thinking (occasionally overthinking) skills in a meaningful capacity beyond the borders of my art practice.
It has been highly rewarding to have a platform to experiment with and learn from practices in systems administration, computer and VR lab development, technology procurement, technical writing, and skill sharing, all the while applying a knack for questioning everything and learning a ton in the process. Drawing on my appreciation for the work I’ve been doing at the Innovation Hub, I decided to pursue a graduate degree in Information Technology. So far, it has made for an interesting contrast with my undergraduate degree, enabling me to question everything in a fresh context while greatly developing my skills as a writer and editor.
Looking forward to this class, I’m excited to deliver on some of the skills I developed during my undergraduate education in the context of professional and information organizations. Of particular interest to me are the resources and exercises focusing on copyright and Creative Commons licensing. A portion of my art practice relies on sourcing found media, the majority of which I’ve obtained no legal rights to implement. While this was not much of a concern in educational and not-for-profit contexts, I fully understand that there is a better and more commercially viable process to follow for sourcing media. Up to this point, my primary concern was simply dodging YouTube’s copyright claims on my non-monetized videos. That said, I’m excited to learn about proper methods for obtaining rights to media, especially as I intend to apply my skills in professional and public contexts in the future.
Lorelai and I (left) with Sarah and Frankenstein (right)
To leave off, I’ll introduce you to my partner, Sarah, and our two cats, Frankenstein and Lorelai, while wishing each of you a Happy New Year and a fruitful semester to come!
My name is Jane Barrager and I will be your guide this semester on the subject of Digital Media: Concepts and Production.
I am originally from Detroit, but I’ve been living in Florida since 1992, and in Tallahassee in particular since 1996. Like many northerners, I came here for the warmth and Sunshine.
I am a graduate of both the undergraduate and graduate programs at Florida’s iSchool located in the School of Communication and Information and Florida State University. In fact, I am one of the first original 6 undergrads to ever be enrolled at the, previously graduate only college. The funniest story I have of that time is the day that I sat next to Warrick Dunn in class and had no idea who he was. I sat next to him on the first day of class because he looked lonely – it seemed to me that the other students in the class where, for some reason, keeping a wide berth around his seat and, feeling sorry for this poor guy, I sat next to him. During the first class our professor asked us to turn to the person next to us and describe the first thing we were going to buy when we graduated and started making money. I don’t remember what I said, but Warrick started describing what I knew (being a Detroiter and all) to be about a $60K vehicle. My response? “I hope you find a good job when you graduate, because you’re going to need it to afford that!” Warrick just smiled. About the third class period I woke up late for class, pulled on the dirty clothes lying next to my bed, swept my uncombed hair into a pony tail, and ran, make-up-less, to class and sat down next to my new friend (who’s name I still did not know). Suddenly a news crew burst into the room, shoved cameras and microphones into my deskmate’s face and started rapid firing questions at him which he answered with confidence and ease like it was the most natural thing in the world. When it was over I looked at him and said “Who the hell are YOU?” He smiled and said, “my name’s Warrick”, and it was at that point I realized who he was. So, my first taste of learning about multimedia at Florida state was when I was featured on national television as the seat partner of the infamous Warrick Dunn on ESPN’s “Sports Center” – makupless and, I’ll admit it, hungover!
I discovered in college that teaching was my passion. I’ve been teaching since 1998 and, although I spent some time teaching computer literacy at our local community college, the ischool has been my home since then. I’ve taught a variety of courses both online and f2f including: Intro to Information Technology, Social Media Management, Digital Media: Concepts and Production, Design and production of NW multimedia, Perspectives in IT, Electronic Media production, Technologies for Information Professionals, Research Methods, and Web site development to name most. I also spent some time working for the Office of Distance Learning developing web-based learning modules and other websites for the FSU community. In my current position I serve as the ischool’s Instructional Support Specialist which basically means that I help other faculty rehab classes. I also train and supervise doctoral students who teach in the UG program.
Now you all know a little about me, and I look forward to reading your stories as well. See you online!
King Cake Kerfuffle delves into the chaos of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, following the adventures of Mike, an adventurous foodie visiting friends in New Orleans, on a quest to find the perfect King Cake. The story takes place amidst the backdrop of parades and assorted festivities as Mike navigates the conflicting opinions of friends and locals on what truly makes the ultimate King Cake.
Black screen- white text- question (bottom to top). 0.15”. (Pete is sitting at the back right of the book sales area of the library, which is a quieter space, using one of the laptop tables).
Black screen- white text- question (bottom to top). Pete answers the question (based on text) right camera. 0.20”. Black screen- white text- question (bottom to top). Pete answers the question (based on text), right camera. 0.43”
Black screen- white text- question (bottom to top). Pete answers the question (based on text), left camera. 0.53”. Black screen- white text- question (bottom to top). Pete answers the question (based on text), right camera. 1.15”.
Synopsis: “Pete and the Librarian” explores the transformative relationship between George, a committed librarian, and Pete, a homeless man who often visits the library. The story reveals how Pete ended up living on the streets, what he has to share with the audience, and how he becomes “the library within the library” by sharing his life experiences and offering advice. The interview also unveils the harsh reality of homelessness, illustrating how easily one can find themselves on the streets. It emphasizes that homelessness is a societal issue and highlights the fact that everyone “has a story.” Script: Questions are on white text (font: lucida grande), on a black screen: “Pete was a successful entrepreneur, until his finance partner passed away” (text) “He started a business in ’78, sold it in ’94, Invested $1.6 million on a Ponzi scheme and is now on the streets” (text) Question (text): “What business advice do you have for us, Pete?” Pete: If you want to create your own business you should take a few lessons in business itself, which I didn’t really do. Question (text): “You had a big business, do you consider yourself a successful business person?” Pete: As far as being a business person, I am a failure, really. Question (text): “Pete, tell me about you…how do you spend your days?” Pete: It varies, there is a song “every day is a winding road” and it is with me, I am sure it is with everybody here, whatever is happening, it is not expected. Question (text): Can you share where you stand in the journey of life at the moment? Pete: You know, I am 88 years old, and in 3 months I am going to be 89, so I can’t complain- that’s another thing about advice, you know, I never thought I’d live this long so I didn’t really plan on that either, I shouldn’t complain about that… (smiling) Pete closes his notebook. Final Text: “Pete is one of over 16,000 people calling the streets of Broward County, FL, their home. Every one of them has a story”. Thanks- interview copyright, music CC. Background: Informed by my own experiences in a library setting, this project seeks to illuminate the lives of those grappling with homelessness, mental health challenges, and poverty. The objective is to present Pete as a multidimensional character, challenging typical stereotypes and fostering understanding and compassion among viewers. Character Development: Pete was a successful businessman who had a nice, comfortable life. Bad investments left him homeless after COVID. Pete seems to also be happy with his life overall. He is open to expressing his feelings, and as a side note is eager to brush up on his French (he takes additional lessons in the library), has a great sense of humor and some not so great friends. Media Assets: • Media that will be used: three cell phone (2 iphone, 1 android) cameras with tripods, and wi-fi microphones. • Existing song (audio), library setting/ closeups of Pete in the library (visual), text based on Pete’s quotes (visual), as per the storyboard. • NOTE: The video will be original (Interviewing Pete in the library). Reflection: My project employs an inductive approach, distinct from the deductive methods I could be using if I was choosing another treatment (II). In hindsight, it could potentially be easier for me to choose a general concept, translate it into a narrative and then work on specific photos and media to match this overarching concept. Instead, I am interviewing Pete, a homeless individual who frequently visits our library (see copyright consent attached previously) and have built my story around that interview. This direct engagement with a specific individual’s experiences allows me to gather nuanced, real-life insights. From Pete’s unique story, we can extrapolate broader themes and understandings about homelessness, moving from the specific to the generic. My project’s strength lies on the 4 very important questions I ask Pete, hoping that his answers will be thought-provoking for the viewers, based on his personal real-life experiences.
Resources:
“Educational Video Copyright Release Form” signed by the interviewee.
This digital story will follow a sea turtle as it hatches and attempts to emerge from its nest and enter the ocean, a journey that is complicated by humans on and around the beach. The sea turtle will awake in the daytime but will hear loud, disorienting voices and will hide back in its nest. At night, the sea turtle will emerge and start heading towards the brightest light, not realizing it’s a person’s porch light. When the light turns off, the turtle will realize it’s lost but will reorient itself towards the next brightest light, the moon over the ocean, and will make it to the ocean.
Image of the vehicle which we will take on a road trip with the title of the project.
Voice-over narration describing the scene.Background Music: (Lo-Fi Type Beat FREELNCR) CC0 1.0 DEED.Audio: Car Toyota interior ignition key engine rev 2 stereo.mp3 – CC BY 4.0 DEED
An image of the sunset off the coast of Florida.
Voice-over narration describing the scene.Background Music: (Lo-Fi Type Beat FREELNCR) CC0 1.0 DEED.
Self-portraits of the group of friends that will be taking the cross-country road trip.
Voice-over narration describing the scene.Background Music: (Lo-Fi Type Beat FREELNCR) CC0 1.0 DEED.
Image of the vehicle which we will take on a road trip.
Voice-over narration describing the scene.Background Music: (Lo-Fi Type Beat FREELNCR) CC0 1.0 DEED.Audio: Car Toyota interior ignition key engine rev 2 stereo.mp3 – CC BY 4.0 DEED
Images from Atlanta portraying the skyline, a foggy day, and a character from the group visiting the World of Coca Cola.
Voice-over narration describing the scene.Background Music: (Lo-Fi Type Beat FREELNCR) CC0 1.0 DEED.
Our stop in North Carolina, starting off with a colorful map of the state. There are also images from our hiking trip of the Blue Ridge Mountains, including one that a character took on top of the mountain.
Voice-over narration describing the scene.Background Music: (Lo-Fi Type Beat FREELNCR) CC0 1.0 DEED.
Images from our stop in Washington DC of major landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial, Capitol Building, as well as the Washington Monument.
Voice-over narration describing the scene.Background Music: (Lo-Fi Type Beat FREELNCR) CC0 1.0 DEED.
Several images from the stop in New York City, including Rockefeller Center, Times Square. An image of one of the characters with the skyline in the background is also shown.
Voice-over narration describing the scene.Background Music: (Lo-Fi Type Beat FREELNCR) CC0 1.0 DEED.
An image depicting a vehicle with a flat tire.
Voice-over narration describing the scene.Background Music: (Lo-Fi Type Beat FREELNCR) CC0 1.0 DEED.
A few images as we made our way into Boston, we were able to also capture images from the Celtics and Patriots games.
Voice-over narration describing the scene.Background Music: (Lo-Fi Type Beat FREELNCR) CC0 1.0 DEED.
The final leg of the trip was in Chicago, starting off with the Chicago flag, a few images from downtown are shown: The Bean, Lake Michigan. As well as one with the main character out on the Navy Pier.
Voice-over narration describing the scene.Background Music: (Lo-Fi Type Beat FREELNCR) CC0 1.0 DEED.
To end off the challenging journey, the group has made it back to Florida with an image from the coast.
Voice-over narration describing the scene.Background Music: (Lo-Fi Type Beat FREELNCR) CC0 1.0 DEED.
Image and Audio Credits
Synopsis:
Exploring the freedom and excitement that goes along with going on a road trip. The story here is told from the perspective of a group of friends as they head on a cross-country trip by car. During the journey, the group of friends will encounter breathtaking landscapes, and quirky roadside attractions all while forging lifelong memories and bonds.
Script:
As the sun painted the Florida coast, our road trip challenge began. My lifelong friends, Frank, Tanner, Nico, and I began our journey. Our heading was due North. While we knew our stops, there was no telling what adventures and challenges we would head into along the way. After several hours of our trip, we arrived in Atlanta where we would rest for the evening before continuing our journey. Within the morning, the clouds adjusted our original plans, so we stopped at the World of Coke before we resumed our road trip adventure. Arriving in North Carolina we wanted to explore the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, utilizing the blue ridge parkway we were able to continue our journey which led us to Washington D.C.
There we visited the Lincoln Memorial, Capitol Hill, and the Washington Monument. As we departed our Nation’s capital, we were greeted by the bright lights and sounds of New York City. We grabbed one of the iconic yellow cabs to Rockefeller center where we were able to ice skate. On our way to the hotel, we made a quick stop in Times Square. After our stop in New York, we proceeded to Historic Boston where we were able to visit many national landmarks and even got the opportunity to see the Celtics and Patriots live.
On our way west from Boston to Chicago, we ran into some rough road where we ended up with a flat tire. Luckily as a group we were able to work together and patch the tire to continue our adventure. Arriving in Chicago we got a new tire to avoid any further complications, but in Chicago we stopped at all the major common attractions as well as taking an architecture boat tour on the Chicago River towards Lake Michigan. As we began our 20-hour trek back to Florida, we were able to reflect on our open road adventure individually and appreciate how it brought us closer together as a group.
Background:
As noted previously in the course, I am an avid traveler. I love going on trips, and especially road trips. With this story being told from the perspective of a group of friends, it can be said that there will be several characters. The viewers will be able to take a glimpse of a road trip of a lifetime. Viewing stunning landscapes and vibrant cities, the whole point of this story is to evoke a sense of freedom and excitement. Enabling the audience to embrace the spontaneity of travel and the joy of shared experiences.
Character Development:
1. The main characters in “Open Road Adventures” consist of a group of friends in search of adventure during a cross-country road trip.
2. Their primary goal is to forge lasting memories and foster strong bonds by partaking in shared experiences along the road trip.
3. In the end, the protagonists emerge from their journey with a deeper appreciation for each other and the world around them, enriched by the experiences they’ve shared.
Media Assets:
I will be using images that I have taken from a first-person point of view, highlighting any nature I have encountered on previous road trips. I will also be using create common images. I will also be incorporating a voiceover narrating the story, as well as creative commons background music, and audio effects.
Reflection (Part 1):
Coming up with an introductory script gave me some challenge, although I was able to come up with a rough draft. Although overall everything else has been very straightforward. I will be using my own images, maybe even adding in some creative common ones as well. Looking forward to adding more to the story.
Reflection (Part 2):
After reviewing this draft, I believe it is a good start. There definitely is quite a little bit of work to be done for the project to be finalized.
The final will incorporate more media assets from the trip helping to make the video longer.
Audio narration will be much more descriptive, describing what events occurred with the group at each stop of the tour.
More creative common audio effects could be embedded into the digital story.
Reflection (Part 3):
After receiving feedback from my peers, I was able to take in the thoughts in which they shared to help improve and finalize my digital story. In the finished product, I was more descriptive about the trip itself, more specifically explaining what occurred or was accomplished at each stop of the journey. Fitting all the images, having them fill the screen was another part of the project I was able to fix from the rough draft to now. In the storyline, I was able to add in a challenge which we faced, and that was dealing with a flat tire when we were headed to Chicago from Boston. Furthermore, I also played around with the audio files, making the narration clearer for the audience while also having background music, the background music chosen was a creative commons audio file that was taken from FreeSound. Not to forget mentioning, I also have another audio file embedded at the beginning of the video, which is the sound of turning a car on. I felt like this would be a clever detail linking to the theme of the digital story.
Credits:
White Sentra by Hussein Tajeddine: CC BY 4.0 DEED
Frank by Hussein Tajeddine: CC BY 4.0 DEED
Tanner by Hussein Tajeddine: CC BY 4.0 DEED
Nico by Hussein Tajeddine: CC BY 4.0 DEED
Hussein by Hussein Tajeddine: CC BY 4.0 DEED
Sentra Side Profile by Hussein Tajeddine: CC BY 4.0 DEED
