This collection development policy is intended to provide guidelines for the selection of library materials and to inform the public about the principles upon which selections are made.
Wasilla Public Library contributes to building a sense of community and provides opportunities for improving quality of life by providing access to a broad range of resources designed to meet the educational, professional, intellectual, cultural and recreational needs of the area’s diverse, growing population.

Scope of the Collection
Wasilla Public Library recognizes its obligations to provide reference and research materials for the direct answering of specific questions and for continuing research. It also recognizes the purposes and resources of other libraries in the community and shall not needlessly duplicate functions and materials. Textbooks and other curriculum-related materials are made available when appropriate.

Wasilla Public Library strives to achieve a balanced collection of materials in the major information categories, as well as a fiction collection calculated to satisfy the widest possible variety of tastes. All viewpoints and opinions on controversial subjects will be represented whenever possible.

The library acknowledges a particular interest in local and state history; therefore, it will seek to acquire state and municipal documents and it will take a broad view of works by and about Alaska authors as well as general works relating to the state of Alaska, whether or not such materials meet the standards of selection in other respects.

Responsibility for Materials Selection
Wasilla Public Library adopts as part of its policy the following paragraphs from the Library Bill of Rights: 

1. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
2. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

Responsibility for selection of books and library materials is and shall be vested in the library director. However, the library director may delegate to such members of the staff as are qualified by reason of training, the authority to interpret and guide the application of policy in making day-to-day selections. Unusual problems will be referred to the library director for resolution.

Criteria for Selection
Certain factors influence the selection of library materials. Among these are:

1. The author’s reputation and significance as a writer. 
2. The importance of subject matter to the collection. 
3. Availability of material in other libraries or in print. 
4. Timeliness or permanence of the book. 
5. Authoritativeness. 
6. Inclusion in standard bibliographies or indexes. 
7. Price. 
8. Demand. 
9. Format, including quality of binding, type, legibility and illustrations.

These criteria are intended as selection aids; the presence or absence of any of them are not necessarily requirements for purchase or acquisition.

Gifts
Unconditional gifts, donations, and contributions to the library may be accepted by the library director or director’s designee. No gifts of donations conditionally made shall be accepted without the approval of the Mayor. Generally, collections of materials will not be accepted with restrictions which necessitate special housing or which prevent integration of the gift into the general library collection. The same standards of selection will govern the acceptance of gifts as govern purchase by the library. If the material is not added to the collection, it will be given to the Friends of the Library to be sold at their annual book sale.

A written acknowledgement of a gift may be given to the donor; however, no value may be assigned unless a monetary contribution is made.

Maintaining the Collection
Systematic withdrawal of materials no longer useful is necessary in order to maintain relevant resources. The same criteria will be used in weeding materials from the collection as are used in their acquisition. The decision to withdraw library materials shall be based on the physical condition, use of the material as determined by last date of loan or by number of loans in the last five years, and age of the material as a misinformation factor, especially in the area of the sciences.

Censorship
Wasilla Public Library recognizes the right of every citizen to read and gather information, and his or her right to freedom from censorship by other persons. Many books are controversial and any given item may offend some persons. However, selections for this library will not be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the merits of the material in relation to the building of the collection and to serving the interests of all readers. This library holds censorship to be a purely individual matter and declares that – while anyone is free to reject for himself books and other materials of which he does not approve – he cannot exercise this right of censorship to restrict the freedom of others.

With respect to the use of library materials by children, the decision as to what a minor may read is the responsibility of his or her parent or guardian. Selection will not be inhibited by the possibility that books may inadvertently come into the possession of minors.