Isbella Jones has been waiting a long time for the new, downtown Cedar River Library to open. Earlier this year, in fact, she was worried about possible delays in the opening and wanted to write a letter to express her concern.

So when she finally got in and had a look around during this past Saturday’s grand opening and ribbon cutting event, what did she think?

“Awesome,” said Jones, 10, adding that her favorite part is the new children’s section.

“I think it’s awesome too,” said sister Jalana Jones, also 10. Her favorite part of the new library is the giant windows that overlook the river and she was excited to come back this fall and see the fish.

The Jones sisters and their mother, Monique, were among the hundreds of residents who made their way to Liberty Park on Saturday for their first chance to get into the newly re-built library over the river.

“Awesome” was the word of the day, among kids and adults as they finally got an opportunity to explore the city’s new library. From the first person to check out a book, Marc Nordland, to the first person to use the self-check, Susan Chamberlain, “awesome” was on everyone’s lips.

Born out of controversy over both site and scope, the new library, like the one before it, straddles the Cedar River and is adjacent to Liberty Park. The new building features floor-to-ceiling windows on the sides that face the river, offering views of the river below.

“Florence, Venice and Renton,” said King County Library System Director Gary Wasdin during his brief remarks prior to the ribbon-cutting. Wasdin also said the Renton library would hold a special place in his heart as it is the first to open during his run as Director.

Though Wasdin was hired by KCLS after most of the controversy had passed, the library director still addressed the matter, citing the community involvement as the reason the library was built in its current location.

“We argue, we disagree and it isn’t always fun,” he said, “but it’s important.”

Mayor Denis Law said the new library shows “how marvelous a library can truly be” by capturing the beauty of its surroundings. Law also brought up former councilman and local business leader King Parker during the ceremony to announce that the library’s new meeting room would be known as the “King Parker Meeting Room.”

Also joining Law, Wasdin and other dignitaries for the ribbon cutting was Laurie (Renton) Teddy-Skok, grandniece of city namesake William Renton. Teddy-Skok cut the ribbon on the original Cedar River Library in 1961 and returned this weekend along with brother Steve Renton to assist in opening the new building.

“I think it’s beautiful,” she said after getting help on the ribbon from a group of kids.

Ruthie Severance, whose three children were busy trying out all of the new seating areas, said her family has also been waiting for the opening and was glad the library remained at its unique location, especially now with larger windows.

“We really love it,” she said. “I love how they opened up the windows so you can see the river.”

Severance also said she liked how the new, more open interior plan allowed her to look across the room and find her kids easier.

Monique Jones, mother of Isbella and Jalana, also said the more open interior was better for finding her girls and though she admitted the outside “is kind of strange-looking” she said the interior colors were nice and that she and the girls “love it.”

“We’re going to start coming back now that it’s open,” she said.