Coffee, scones and books: Barnes and Noble has it, so does Borders, and it works.

And now Sacramento State officials want the campus library to add an eatery, and modify “library etiquette,” in hopes of increasing traffic in the library and encouraging students to stay near by and then get back to their studies, said Terry Webb, library director and dean.

The new eatery would be located on the breezeway, which faces the library quad and is in between the book reserve room and the main library entrance, Webb said.

Nearly a year ago, the library approached the CSUS Foundation, which handles food services on campus, to examine the feasibility of having an eatery for the library.

Matt Altier, the executive director of the foundation, said that there was nothing to report about a possible library food service at the moment but something is in progress.

“The foundation looked at the possibilities. They came and looked and were very positive,” Webb said. “They believe there is a market. The discussions and potential food providers are still underway.”

Nancy Pennebaker, foundation executive director spokeswoman, said that the foundation has started questioning how it should go about adding the eatery.

Pennebaker also said that every situation with a new food service is unique and once a contract is drawn up, more particulars can be given. She said that Altier expects to hear something in three to four weeks regarding the library situation.

“In general, contracts are drawn up with each entity in mind,” Pennebaker said.

The library, the foundation and the vendor are the entities that are to be considered.

Webb said that he assumes that the university will receive some revenues from the library eatery.

Pennebaker said that the foundation provides what the vendor needs through a sublease, and then in return gets a percentage of its profit to offset their costs. She said she didn’t know if the library would get any revenue because a contract hasn’t been made.

“If there’s a proposal and everyone likes it and it could attract more people to the library, we’ll go,” said Webb, adding that nearly two million people walk through the library each year.

Webb said that it has been “moderately successful” having food allowed in the library basement, but the library will not change its current policy of no food or drinks, except bottled water. –

“Just the amount of comments we get, we are pretty sure it will be accepted in concept,” Webb said. “We’ve wanted to do this for quite a while.”

Webb said that he wants the vendor to be experienced and that the service provided should be “high quality and conducive to the atmosphere.”

Webb said he hopes that hardware can be provided for students to aid them in their studies.

There is no timetable for the project and there’s no rush, Webb said.

“It sounds like a good idea,” student Angela Cavazos said. “It’s frustrating to leave the library to get food.”

“By having it on the premises it will encourage students to eat here, then continue their studies,” Webb said. “Students will appreciate it.”