Outriders' of Reality Blog

Sat - July 10, 2004

Biography of David I. Harvie MLS CD

An Introduction to David I. Harvie, Chief Scout and Founder of the Outriders of Reality.

David I. Harvie is a renegade librarian and library apostate. He is the Associate Library Director at the Stratford Public Library, Ontario, Canada. His responsibilities included Systems and Technical Services, Physical Plant, and Strategic Planning and anything bizarre or out of the ordinary. In his spare time he is plotting the overthrow of civilization as we know it.

Mr. Harvie is a dynamic figure often seen scaling buildings in downtown Stratford (but most usually on the Library’s roof shoveling snow). He is an internationally acclaimed chef in Tibetan seafood, a veteran in love, and an outlaw in Peru.

He does not perspire.

The laws of physics do not apply to him.

Children and small animals trust David Harvie.

He balances, he weaves, he dodges, he frolics, and pays his bills on time. He breeds prize-winning clams in his spare time. Mr. Harvie has won bullfights in Spain, cliff diving competitions in Ceylon and spelling bees at the Kremlin.

He has played Hamlet, performed open-heart surgery, and has spoken with Elvis.

He is old enough to know better, is not married, has no children, and has no cats.

But the most important thing about David Harvie is to know when he is lying.

He has always been who he is becoming.

Posted at 11:09 PM Read More

Fri - October 24, 2003

Outriders of Reality Reference Guide and Travel Manual

The original Official Website of the collected wisdom of the Outriders of Reality still lives on!

See http://www.think-aboutit.com/Misc/outriders_of_reality.htm

I have no idea how a copy of the original site got there. You just never know what you will find on the Internet.

David

Posted at 10:52 PM Read More

Towards a Personal Philosophy of Librarianship

Truth, Service, Compassion and Humility

A while ago, our Library Director asked the librarians on staff to write down their personal philosophy of librarianship. This is what I submitted.

With the deepest apologies to my Muse....

It is said that “Duty commands but Honour obeys”. If this is so, then what does Honour demand of us as a profession and as individuals?

As Librarians, our first duty is to the Truth.

As a profession we are called to bear witness to the Truth of information. If information is that which defines and enhances reality, then by providing our patrons access to information, we allow them to take control of their reality , their lives and their destinies. It empowers them and redeems them by preventing them from becoming victims in an imposed and alien reality. We do this because as Librarians, we believe that Tomorrow cannot be held hostage and ransomed off to the highest bidder, for it is the inheritance of All.

Our second duty is to Serve.

We serve. We do not judge.

We serve ALL because we believe that they are worthy of our service. The measure of our professionalism and commitment is how we serve the so-called “least“ of us, whether they are the young or old, homeless, handicapped, the mentally ill or challenged. It is not for us to judge or dictate how our patrons choose to seek the perfection of their souls.

We serve because as Librarians we believe in something greater than ourselves. For it is in the living of it, it is in the doing of it, which gives what we do as a profession meaning and worth. Because as Librarians we believe that each new voice enriches us and ennobles us, and each voice lost diminishes us.

Our third and fourth most important duties are to Compassion and Humility.

We should be efficient in our duties, but not at the price of compassion. We may take pride in our service of others and in our professional accomplishments, but never to the point of arrogance. For it is compassion and humility, which shows us where the true nature of our service lies. Being a Librarian does not mean deciding what to do based on whether or not it serves some warped sense of professionalism or ego. It means serving our patrons rather than “the Rules”. It means doing the right thing simply because it is the right thing. Because as Librarians we understand that infinite power and infinite wisdom are not enough, without infinite compassion.

As Librarians we move between fact and fiction, between fantasy and reality, between incantation and equation. We watch the shifting edges between them all and we guard the sum of all things. While we may not be able to turn bullets and bombs, we can help to turn hearts and minds. Because we understand that giving someone a book is the ultimate subversive act.

As Librarians we struggle against intolerance, ignorance, chaos, despair and the darkness of the soul. We fight against the death of hope and the death of dreams. Against this danger we can never surrender. If we fail in our duty as Librarians, our towns, cities, countries and world will become a poorer and darker place. If we fail in our duty, then none of us will be saved, and our values and beliefs, our history and culture, the best and worst of us, will not even be a memory. We are what we are because as Librarians we believe that to forget is to die.

Our libraries tell of the past, converse with the present, and speak to the future. They enable us to rediscover our dreams when the world has stolen them from us. Each new idea enriches and ennobles us. Each idea lost or censored, diminishes us. Although our collections may be written in many languages, they all speak in the language of hope, in the language of the heart and of the soul. Our libraries allow us to choose something better and give us the courage to go on. They shelter us, they transform us, they propel us and they redeem us. Above all, our libraries are the light that will lead our way to a bright and better future if we remain true to our Duty and Ourselves.

David I. Harvie is a renegade librarian and library apostate. He is currently the Associate Library Director at the Stratford Public Library. He is old enough to know better, is not married, has no children, has no cats, and lives alone with the voices in his head. He is the Chief Scout of the Outriders of Reality. He has always been who is he is becoming.

Posted at 10:34 PM Read More

Thu - September 25, 2003

The Punkeydoodles Corner Expedition

The legendary Punkeydoodles corner was rediscovered by David Harvie, Chief Scout of the Outriders of Reality last summer. After overcoming incredible hardships, like filling the gas tank and driving in relatively straight lines down the highway without attracting the attention of local law enforcement agencies, this mystical site of ancient librarianship was once again discovered. Shortly after the historic visit, local inhabitants noted the disappearance of a local street sign. The investigation continues to this day.

Posted at 11:32 PM Read More

Michal Calder and David Cross Visit Stratford

And Live to Tell About It!

Michal and David arrived in Stratford via train on Friday night at 7:40pm. They, and their luggage, were wisked to their luxurious suite at the David Harvie B&B, where they enjoyed two nights on the pull-out couch. Activities included two plays at the Festival (Anthony and Cleopatra, and Troilus and Cressida) and fine dining at Mr. Dog. They even got to watch as David was fitted for his new suit! Other activities consisted of trying to find a restaurant for dinner on Saturday night, and a gift for David C's brother in Winnipeg. The happy couple left Stratford on Sunday night at 10:30 pm after the VIA train was delayed for 1 hour by a renegade herd of cows (as rumour has it). A box of Rheo Thompson Mint Smoothie chocolates was reportedly in their possession for the train ride home. How many chocolates survived the journey is unknown.

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