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Riverton High School Principal Joelene Anderson, Mayor Allan Aughey OAM and Council Library Manager Catherine Driscoll with the signed partnership agreement.
New partnership secures future of Riverton School Community Library
Clare & Gilbert Valleys Council, the Department for Education through Riverton High School and the State Library of South Australia have formalised a new partnership agreement for the delivery of library services through the Riverton School Community Library from January 2027.
The tri-partite agreement provides the governance and administrative framework for the library to continue serving both Riverton High School and the wider community.
The new agreement modernises the long-standing partnership, providing a contemporary framework for the management and delivery of library services and supporting their future sustainability.
Located on the grounds of Riverton High School, the library will continue to operate as a school library while providing public library services to the community, including access to the statewide library collection, digital literacy resources and training, meeting spaces and programs supporting social connection.
Clare & Gilbert Valleys Council Mayor Allan Aughey OAM welcomed the agreement, saying it provided a strong foundation for the future of library services in Riverton.
“This is a very positive outcome for the Riverton community and demonstrates what can be achieved when Council, the school and State Government work together,” Mayor Aughey said.
“The new agreement modernises a long-standing arrangement, bringing services, practices and management more closely into line with contemporary community expectations.
“This is an important reform to ensure continuity of the service and to help keep the Riverton School Community Library relevant, valued and sustainable into the future.
“Libraries today are about much more than books. They provide access to information and technology, opportunities to learn and places where people can connect with others in their community.”
Riverton High School Principal Joelene Anderson said she was happy with the outcome and
The agreement sets out how the school and Council will work together across areas including planning and marketing, operational requirements, community access standards and financial and administrative reporting.
A newly established Community Library Executive Group will oversee the partnership and monitor the operational guidelines and schedules agreed to by the parties.
The Riverton School Community Library will be funded significantly by the State Government, with a supplementary contribution from Clare & Gilbert Valleys Council, and will maintain a combined school and public library collection.
Council also operates libraries at Clare and Saddleworth. Staff from these libraries will work cooperatively with Riverton School Community Library staff to develop and deliver core library programs and services across the community.
The new partnership agreement takes effect from January 2027.
Contact: Richard Dodson, Acting Chief Executive Officer
Clare & Gilbert Valleys Council
4 Gleeson St, Clare, 5453
Email: admin@cgvc.sa.gov.au
Phone: 08 88426400