When book-lovers step into four of the North East’s libraries at the end of July, they may not realise the are in a whole new organisation.
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The closure of the High Country Library Corporation will hand control of libraries back to Wangaratta, Alpine, Benalla and Mansfield councils.
The old Myrtleford council chambers was in the midst of being transformed from an occasional meeting location into the new “hub” to service libraries across the municipalities.
Alpine Shire corporate manager Leanne Williams said council meetings had not been held in Myrtleford since 2011 and it was exciting the heritage-listed building would be utilised.
She said the number of employee hours across the hub and three libraries would increase from 146.3 to 148.4 hours per week.
“We want to improve the service that’s being offered,” Ms Williams said.
Wangaratta community wellbeing director Jaime Carroll told Tuesday’s council meeting the library would have the same opening hours, but because the budget was structured differently, she could not give an “apples for apples” comparison of finances.