For the third year in a row, South Ayrshire Council is up for an award from the prestigious Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE).
The Council has been shortlisted for achieving a world first for a public library service, by launching its very own e-book: 'The Record of the Ayrshire Militia 1802-1883′.
This is now for sale on Amazon or can be downloaded to laptops, smartphones and all e-readers such as the Kindle – with two more e-books planned later this year and in 2013.
The achievement has now been shortlisted for an award by APSE in the 'Best use of Information Technology & Communication Initiative' category and is the third time the authority has been up for an award from APSE in as many years.
The significance of the e-book launch has already won the Council a national silver award and hopes are high of landing gold at the APSE award ceremony on 13 September 2012.
Councillor Bill Grant, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Tourism and Leisure said: "In 2010, we became first local authority in Scotland to introduce an e-borrowing and e-reading service for our customers and we have been determined to explore the full potential of this new technology.
"It's been a fantastic year for the Council's Library Service and, nationally, we are rightly recognised for our innovation and commitment to delivering a wider and more accessible service to customers using available technology.
"Our library service was also complemented a few weeks ago with the launch of an e-magazine service and a new library App, literally putting the full resources of a local library in library members' pockets.
"Getting shortlisted for an APSE award is an achievement in itself, but winning an APSE award would be fitting recognition of the pioneering work being undertaken by our library service in developing e-books, e-magazines and a library service fit for readers of all ages and interests in the 21st Century."
Councillor Grant concluded: "I hope the e-book will mark a new chapter by making it third time lucky for us at the APSE awards!"