A COUNTY'S library, museum and arts provision has been given official praise.

An Audit Commission team has given Durham County Council's cultural services department two stars out of a possible three. Inspectors say the service is good, and has promising prospects for improvement. Its strengths include provision of new facilities that are user-friendly, have disabled access and meet changing needs.

All libraries have Internet access, some offer computer-based open learning and museums have a strong educational emphasis. Customer satisfaction is high and the council attracts external funding.

Weaknesses include different standards between libraries and people's limited knowledge of services available.

Library computers run under a "heavily controlled system which limits the service available to users and can make it difficult for them to use". There is no access to mobile and trailer libraries for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

The inspectors recommend the council produces a strategic plan for the department, wider public consultation and better marketing and promotion.

Mick Hannon, of the Audit Commission, said the council was serving people well but there were "a few areas that still need to be looked at".

He said: "Given the positive approach of Durham to previous inspection reports, I am confident that these will be promptly addressed."

The council said the department's working practice and planning already incorporated the recommendations.

Cultural services director Patrick Conway said: "We offer a vast range of services to thousands of people and the feedback we get is that they are happy with the standard of service we provide."

The report recognised that services were good and dedicated staff worked hard, he said.

"But that's not the end of the story. We believe that we don't just have promising prospects for improvement, but excellent ones, and the challenge now is to go out and prove it."