As a librarian and distance educator, my career has been about removing barriers to accessing information.

Today, I’m advocating for a gem of a library that I have come to love and use since moving to Québec. It’s the Haskell Free Library and Opera House, which now has a newly created barrier to accessing the physical building.

The building straddles the Can/US border at Stanstead Québec and Derby Line Vermont. For over a century, Canadians have been able to walk from the Canadian side along the sidewalk to the public entrance on the U.S. side to enter the building. Inside the building the border is marked on the floor and Americans and Canadians are served equally.

About a week ago, the U.S. government unilaterally shut down this access point, partially for now and permanently in October. The library has about half a year to build a new entrance on the Canadian side. This will be a tight timeframe to raise money, get design approval from the relevant historical societies in both countries, and complete the required renovations.

They have a fundraising initiative through GoFundMe.

Me being me, I’m going to share the upbeat stories this library and opera house.

A delightful visit to the building.

A glimpse into the cross-border cooperation of the library, the fire departments, and just plain living in Stanstead QC and Derby Line Vermont, check out the CBC show (from nine years ago) “Still Standing” Season 2, Episode 10. (Due to licensing this is accessible only within Canada).

Enjoy public libraries!

Go well,

Peggy Lynn