I. COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT
The goal of the Cybrarium is to provide the citizens of Homestead with a range of materials and experiences in a variety of print and non-print formats to meet their informational, cultural, educational, and recreational needs and interests.
To meet this goal, the Cybrarium has developed procedures for selecting, evaluating, re-evaluating, and withdrawing materials and Virtual Reality (VR) experiences. These procedures are intended to ensure that the collection reflects all points of view on current and historical issues, and that materials are available in diverse media formats.
The Cybrarium endeavors to provide a range of opinions, majority and minority, on all subjects, and does not exclude materials or experiences based on the author’s or producer’s point of view. The Cybrarium also attempts to avoid collections that reflect inordinate responsiveness to a single point of view.
Individual use of Cybrarium materials and equipment is a private and personal matter. All patrons are free to reject for themselves materials of which they may disapprove; no patron may restrict the freedom of use and access for others. Responsibility for the reading, listening, and viewing of Cybrarium materials or experiences by minors rests with their parents or legal guardians, not with Cybrarium staff. Selection of Cybrarium materials or experiences is not inhibited by the possibility that materials may come into the possession of children.
Books and materials are selected according to intrinsic merit, subject treatment, community interest, and contribution to a balanced collection in the Cybrarium. No single standard of suitability can be applied in all cases. Materials are selected to present a variety of opinions on a subject and are judged as a whole rather than on isolated passages.
The Cybrarium collects VR experiences that may be used on one or more of the stations in the Virtual Reality Cube (“VR Cube”), mobile VR stations, and stand-alone VR headsets. The selection of experiences is guided by several factors:
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- Experiences that support informational, cultural, educational, and recreational needs of the community
- Price
- Positive reviews and industry awards
- Requests from residents, community organizations and partners
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VR experiences must be licensed for public and/or commercial use, and be compatible with Cybrarium VR hardware and software.
The volume and nature of requests for access to Cybrarium materials and experience by members of the public is a significant factor in selection. Flexibility, open-mindedness, and responsiveness are exercised during the evaluation process.
II. RECONSIDERATION OF MATERIALS
The Cybrarium welcomes expression of opinion by patrons about the collection, individual titles, or VR experiences, but will be governed by this Policy in making additions and deletions.
Patrons who request the reconsideration of Cybrarium materials or VR experiences must submit their request in writing by completing and signing the Request for Reconsideration of Material.
After review, the Cybrarium Director (the “Director”) or designee will communicate a decision and the reason for it, in writing, to the patron who initiated the request for reconsideration.
The Cybrarium endorses the American Library Association (ALA) Library Bill of Rights, the ALA Freedom to Read Statement, and the ALA Free Access to Minors Statement, and interprets these statements to include all Cybrarium materials regardless of format. Responsibility for the selection and removal of books and other materials resides with the Director, who may delegate that responsibility to staff.
Suggestions from the public regarding selection, retention, or reconsideration of materials or experiences are encouraged and reviewed promptly (Addendum A).
III. WEEDING
Cybrarium materials are owned by the City of Homestead. Outdated materials, books no longer of interest or in demand, and worn or damaged copies will be removed. Staff will make every effort to transfer unneeded items in usable condition to Cybrarium support groups, or a vendor specializing in discards and donations from libraries that provide revenue in return for surplus materials. Unneeded items transferred to the ownership of a Cybrarium support group may be sold to benefit Cybrarium programs and services.
VR experiences that are not owned by the City of Homestead, but are licensed software, will be deselected when appropriate.
Adopted: January 12, 2021
Amended: May 10, 2021