West side residents of the Santa Clarita Valley should have more access to books, once a new library goes in next May.

A 12,000 square foot library to be located at the Valencia Marketplace Shopping Center at 25950 The Old Road was approved Tuesday at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting.

“For nearly two years, our office has been working closely with the town council, our local school principals, the (Hart district) superintendent and our homeowner associations to provide a full-service library for our residents in the West Ranch communities,” said Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

At a cost of approximately $19 million, the property is being arranged with an eight-year lease with Valencia Marketplace II.

The lease begins May 1, according to county records.

The library will include a large reading area for adults; teen center for middle and high school students; a children’s area; an 80-seat community meeting room; group study rooms; express checkout service machines; public access computers; public WiFi; public restrooms; and a collection of 60,000 books.

The lease terms detail a maximum first-year rental amount of $269,289, which includes an initial annual base rent of $180,000, plus a first-year payment of operating expense rent estimated at $89,289 for the project, with the rental cost entirely funded by Fifth District Net County Cost.

The estimated proposed project cost totals $19,500,000, according to county documents.

There’s $4.5 million for tenant improvements, including telephone and data low voltage systems; $1,000,000 for books and library materials; $1,000,000 for furniture, fixtures, and equipment; $3,000,000 for eight-year rent expense and contingency; and $10,000,000 for eight-year operating costs.

The proposed lease agreement provides 12,000 rentable square feet of library space and adequate off-street parking spaces, according to county documents.

The county has three five-year options to renew the lease under the same terms, conditions and rental rate.

The Department of Public Works was not required to inspect this facility as it was built in 2003 and meets current standards for the county’s occupancy.