Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Lancaster Library Plans Are Unveiled : Development: The $12.2-million facility, which will replace the current overcrowded one, is expected to revitalize the downtown area.

At a time when many communities are struggling just to keep their libraries open, civic leaders in Lancaster are planning to build an even bigger local library in the downtown area.

City and county officials on Wednesday unveiled a model of the $12.2-million library that is scheduled to open in March, 1995. They said it will replace the current overcrowded Lancaster library and help revitalize the struggling central business district.

“It’s going to be one of those things that will help draw people back downtown,” Councilman George Runner said.

Councilman George Root added: “It will bring in a lot of walk-in trade. The merchants will benefit from it. You’ll see a lot of new businesses locating along here.”

The model was unveiled inside a onetime tuxedo shop, which is among the buildings to be demolished beginning in early November so that the library can be built on the north side of Lancaster Boulevard between Cedar and Date avenues.

The model and accompanying drawings allowed local leaders to see the skylight-illuminated adult reading area, which will seat 285, and the children’s reading center, which will seat 68.

The library will be largest in the 85-branch county system and will be almost three times larger than the current Lancaster library. Construction of the 51,300-square-foot facility is expected to begin next March.

City leaders have long lobbied for a new building to replace the 29-year-old county library branch that did not have enough shelf space or seating to keep pace with the city’s population boom during the 1980s.

County officials said they had no money for a new library and were unsuccessful in obtaining state funds for the project.

Earlier this year, however, Lancaster City Council members agreed to pay for the new library through bond sales, redevelopment funds and a loan.

The financing is part of a larger agreement that is slated to bring several other new county buildings, including a new sheriff’s station and courthouse, to Lancaster.

Although the city funding will allow construction of the new library, County Librarian Sandra F. Reuben acknowledged that the county would have a tough time paying its operating costs.

Reuben said she believes that by the time the new Lancaster branch is finished, adequate funding for library services will be restored. “The timing should be perfect,” she said.