STOCKTON Borough Council's library service has won a place on the shortlist for a national award.

The service will battle it out with representatives from three other local authorities for the title of Management Team of the Year in the 2002 Awards for Excellence, run by the Local Government Chronicle magazine.

The award, which is sponsored by BT, recognises managers who have been able to demonstrate that little bit extra.

Councillor Bob Gibson, leader of the council, said: "This is wonderful news and I would like to congratulate the team and all the library staff for this richly-deserved recognition for their hard work."

The library service has already achieved national recognition, winning Beacon Status for the authority under the theme of libraries as a community resource.

Also last year, the service gained the Charter Mark status for a second time for the quality of its service.