A Queens library has reopened after it was damaged by Hurricane Sandy, and officials say it's now equipped to brave similar storms in the future. NY1's Roger Clark filed the following report.

When the doors opened Tuesday at the Queens Library at Peninsula, Rockaway residents were ready to hit the books there for the first time in nearly three years.

"This is a great resurgence," said Marcus Jackson, a Rockaway resident. "We've been waiting for a long time for this."

"It's just one more thing," said Kathy Johnson, a Rockaway resident. "We're on the road to recovery."

Hurricane Sandy wrecked four library branches in the Rockaways and Broad Channel. This was the last to reopen after a $3.5 million rebuilding project. A modular building offered services during reconstruction.

"We are now celebrating the reopening of this fantastic building that is redesigned and will be better than ever and will serve this community for years and years to come," said Bridget Quinn-Carey, interim president and CEO of the Queens Public Library.

The library has a beach and boardwalk theme, along with new books and computers, a teen area, an expanded children's section with an enhanced early literacy program, and an adult learning center.

The building is also more storm-resilient in case another superstorm rips through the Rockaways.

"We want to celebrate the fact that we're so close to the water and that's such a key part of the community, but we also want to make sure that we're ready for the future because storms happen," Quinn-Carey said.

So heating and air conditioning systems are on the roof, not ground level. Even the hot water heater is raised to the ceiling of the mechanical room. Flood gates are also in the works.

The reopening is good news to Dan Mundy, head of the local community board's environmental committee.

"Almost three years, people are not back in their homes, and if they are, they're only halfway in and things aren't finished," Mundy siad. "Seeing and hearing about a library coming back gives them hope for the future, that they can accomplish the same thing."

Library employment counselor and Rockaway resident Jakea Williamson's reaction to the reopening says it all.

"To be here and to see how everything was destroyed, and then to see it just so amazing, it's really awesome," Williamson said. "The colors, everything is just, I was just speechless, basically."

The official grand reopening for the branch will be September 8, with five days of celebrations and activities for the community.