More than three years after it burned to the ground, a restored Georgetown Neighborhood Library reopened Monday to much enthusiasm.

Outgoing Mayor Adrian Fenty and presumptive mayor-elect Vince Gray took part in cutting the ribbon this morning in front of a packed crowd gathered on the newly minted building's front steps. In tones that attempted to put the bitter divisions of the primary election in the past, Fenty and Gray repeatedly thanked each other and all those involved in making the restoration a reality.

In a sense, the library's reopening marks the one of the last accomplishments of Fenty's administration. Fenty mentioned today's event would be the last library opening during the remainder of his term.

At a price of nearly $18 million, the library's renovations attempt to preserve the feel of what it used to be.

"In certain ways this library still feels old," said DC Librarian Chief Ginnie Cooper to the gathered crowd, "but the children's room, the Peabody room and the meeting rooms will all be new."

The restoration also added public access computers, better lighting and an outdoor reading terrace. The Peabody room, now located in what used to be an unfinished attic, includes its original 1935 furniture. Many tables and chairs in the rest of the library are reproductions of the library's original furniture.

The Fenty administration, which helped build new libraries across the city, did not intend to restore the Georgetown library before it burnt down; not that it was in the best of shape.

"It was a really dated library," said Ward 2 councilmember Jack Evans. "It was out of the '50s and had nothing done since the '50s. The silver lining in the fire obviously is that we now have one of the finest libraries in the country right here in Georgetown."

Lucy Kerr checked out the first books of the day, which were Cornelia Funke's "Igraine the Brave" and Kathy Kelly's "Lucy Rose: Here's the Thing about Me."