About us

The High Country Library Corporation was established in 1996 and we offer free library service to all residents and visitors in our region.  Our member councils are:

Alpine Shire
Benalla Rural City
Mansfield Shire
Rural City of Wangaratta

HCLC covers an area of 14,760 square kilometres and includes isolated and remote areas as well as rural towns and urban centres.  We serve a population of 62,374 and 356,852 people visited branches in 2007/08.   Branch libraries are situated at:

Wangaratta
Benalla
Mansfield
Bright
Myrtleford         (also Alpine Shire service centre)
Mount Beauty    (also Alpine Shire service centre)

The Outreach service provides rural communities with access to library resources through monthly visits to Woods Point, Gundowring, Jamieson and Devenish.  A mail service for those unable to access branch libraries is also available.

Funding

Funding is provided from both State and Local Government.   The percentage split of total expenditureis approximately 28% (State) and 60% (Local) Government.

Local Laws

Board members are responsible for the Library’s Local Laws, copies of which are available at HCLC branches.

Contractual obligations

• Library Agreement

 This forms the legal basis for the Corporation as well as the responsibilities of member councils and the Corporation.    

• Member council service agreements

 Each member council and the Corporation have an agreement that describes the obligations of both parties at an operational level.  This agreement provides details about services and provision of facilities.   The Corporation delivers library services from premises that are provided and maintained by each council.

• Workplace Agreement

This is an agreement between the library staff and the High Country Library Corporation.  Staff are represented in negotiating this agreement by the ASU.