Beginning next spring, students may have an alternative to studying in the library.

Encore Books, located in Hills Plaza South, will break ground on its newest book "superstore" -- about 15,000 square feet -- this fall, said Tony Vita, president of Vita & Vita Realty Corp., which manages Hills Plaza and Hills Plaza South. The store will be a first for Centre County.

"(The store) will be a landmark of State College -- a Taj Mahal," he said.

Encore Books' current store will close when the superstore opens next to the A-Z Video Superstore in Hills Plaza South.

The "super" part of the store will not be the books themselves, Vita said.

"The bookstore will offer a library atmosphere where you can sit and relax," said Vita, adding that computers will be available for patrons to use.

Vita hopes the new concept will attract University students, who haven't been a large part of the clientele of the present store.

"We hope to give the students a comfortable choice," he said.

A European-style cafe featuring pastries and coffees will be on the extravagant side, Vita said. Guest lecturers and book signings will also be featured, he said.

Encore Books is a discount bookstore chain that owns about 150 stores on the East Coast.

Vita said his company turned down two other less expensive stores bidding for the space and chose Encore Books. The company wanted to bring the big city bookstore to a small town.

Vita said he is confident local residents will be impressed when the new Encore Books Superstore opens in the spring.