US-Canada Border Library Celebrates Anniversary With New Entrance

The Haskell Free Library and Opera House, a historic landmark that straddles the international boundary between the United States and Canada, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this month with a major structural change. For more than a century, Canadians could freely enter the building through its main doors on the US side without passing through a formal international border crossing. That arrangement ended after United States officials prompted the institution to construct a separate entrance on the Canadian side to combat security vulnerabilities.

The library, located in the small border town of Derby Line, Vermont, and Stanstead, Quebec, opened in 1901 with a black line on the floor representing the boundary. Visitors could browse books in English and French on the ground floor or sit in an upstairs theater where the audience sat in the United States while their feet rested in Canada. Local residents expressed frustration over the modification, viewing it as an unnecessary disruption to a century-old symbol of cross-border unity.

The process to alter the facility began following a visit from Trump administration officials, including then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, early in 2025. Sylvie Boudreau, then president of the library's board of trustees, was subsequently summoned to a meeting with representatives from US Customs and Border Protection, the US Border Patrol, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. She was informed that the sidewalk allowing direct Canadian access to the unified American entrance would close, requiring Canadians to clear a traditional border checkpoint before entering the library.

US Customs and Border Protection officials defended the decision by pointing to security concerns. A spokesperson stated that drug traffickers and smugglers had been exploiting the open access for Canadians without customs checks, adding that the new measures protect Americans and stop criminal exploitation. While authorities did not immediately highlight widespread drug trafficking specifically through the library, the Department of Justice noted a 2011 incident where the facility was used in a firearms smuggling operation, and a more recent illegal entry attempt occurred in June 2026.

The logistical challenge of constructing a permanent secondary entrance carried a heavy financial burden. The library estimated the cost at approximately $650,000, prompting a public fundraising campaign that successfully gathered over $300,000 in donations. Boudreau explained that the new entry point, which opened in June, ultimately provides a safer experience because visitors now enter and leave directly from Canadian soil.

Despite the alterations and additional security oversight from both the US Border Patrol and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the facility continues to draw a steady stream of visitors. During a recent visit, tourists were still able to take advantage of the building's iconic photo opportunity: straddling the border line with one foot in the United States and the other in Canada.

Library leaders emphasized that while the traditional open-access model has changed, they remain dedicated to preserving the historical spirit of the institution. Current board president Rodger Coupe noted that the original intent of the building was to foster mutual understanding between Americans and Canadians, a mission the board continues to uphold under strict observation.