CITY TO STUDY LIBRARY IDEAS.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

City Council members are considering using city funds to build a new county library in Canyon Country, where the existing facility has been criticized for years as too small.

During tonight's study session, the council will check out several actions the city could take, but all would require pulling money out of the General Fund and away from the construction of roads and parks, said management analyst Paul Zaengle.

``We're saying, Hey, if we do this, some other things are going to suffer,'' Zaengle said. ``That's the hard part.''

Council members and residents have talked for years about the need for a better library at the east end of town, but Los Angeles County library officials say they lack the money.

The existing library covers 5,050 square feet, while projected population growth through 2020 calls for a Canyon Country library of 18,000 to 20,000 square feet, city officials said.

City officials are expected tonight to discuss possible locations for a new library, as well as whether to use city funds to build one or wait for library development fees to come in from subdivisions being built along the Antelope Valley Freeway.

A city staff report that examined the library also looked at expanding the existing library, but county library officials have said the lot is not large enough.

One possible site for a new library is across Soledad Canyon Road from the new Edwards Theatres complex. The developer has expressed interest in working with the city to build a library with strong architectural features, city officials said.

``New studies show that it's beneficial for both the library and the commercial area to put them together,'' Zaengle said. ``A library brings in a good group of people, and they want a quality development across from the Edwards. It gives it a good heart for the community.''

Still, the city would have to come up with $500,000 for public improvements and up to $3 million to make the lease affordable, the staff report states.

The city-owned Weston site, across from Canyon High School, is sloped and would require a lot of grading. County officials say the area is not acceptable for a library, the staff report said.

A site on Sierra Vista Junior High School property is being looked at for a Boys & Girls Club. A library could be added to that facility, but it could encroach on the school's field space, the report said.