The first time a class comes into the library, the staff gives a brief orientation talk about where things are located, how to use the computer card catalog, and how and where to research their topics. There is usually heavy use of the library during the lunch period, especially during inclement weather. Budgets for collection development have been inconsistent from year to year and vary among the sites. At Marin, the funding comes primarily from the PTA Book Fair profits, while at Cornell, Vista, and MacGregor, funding comes from a combination of their general funds, categorical monies, and PTA contributions. The district provides the major portion of funding to sites.
Sites determine the allocated amount that goes to the library.
Materials for emerging readers, ESL populations, high interest fiction for the middle grades and printed materials to support the social studies and science curriculums are always in short supply. Collection development at the middle school is enhanced by the profits from the PTA Book Fair and from donations. Collection development at the high school is almost nonexistent. There is no money left from the site budget for collection development since 1993. The only sources of new materials to the library have been the donation of new and used books.