Expansion of Phoenixville Library puts community at odds

The Phoenixville Public Library is in a tight spot. Literally, the Carnegie-era library currently crams a collection of 75,000 books, CDs, and other reference materials, as well as nearly 600 programs per year into an 11,000 square foot space. The shelves are cramped and the reading areas and meeting spaces are at a premium. Few would disagree that the library needs to expand — the question facing the Library Board and the Phoenixville community is how.

Beading business in Phoenixville

The Potomac Bead Company, located at 167 Bridge Street, is the jewelry crafter’s dream shop. The walls of the two-story loft are lined with a rainbow of colorful strands of beads—gemstones, freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals, and festive lampwork glass. Bins around the store are piled high with beads and the metal pieces, called findings, that go between them in all shapes, sizes, colors and materials, priced sometimes by the bead or often by weight.