The Haskell Free Library and Opera House is a unique building that straddles the border of Canada and the US. Constructed more than a century ago as a deliberate rebuttal to borders and division, the imposing building split between Quebec and Vermont has become a beloved and fiercely protected part of communities in both countries. However, in recent months, the library has become the latest casualty in the trans-border feud that has strained relations between the two nations. US officials announced that the main entrance to the library, which sits in Vermont, would soon be cut off to Canadians, citing drug traffickers and smugglers exploiting the library's accessibility. The new rules, which go into effect in October, require Canadians to go through a formal border crossing before entering the library. The Haskell hosts movie nights, poetry readings, and theatre performances for a loyal following, and has served as a meeting point for families separated by visa restrictions. The intense scrutiny on the library has left staff exhausted, with not enough resources to give tours to all the people who ask.
