U.S. limits Canadian's access to Haskell Free Library
DERBY LINE, Vt (WVNY/WFFF) — The U.S. is now limiting Canadian access to the iconic Haskell Free Library and Opera House.
The library has been sitting right on the border since 1904, and has been considered a neutral zone for decades.
As it currently stands, Canadians have been able to access the library's main U.S. entrance from the sidewalk without having to go through U.S. Customs.
Now, the U.S. Government is putting a stop to this tradition. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson released a statement citing a rise in illicit cross border activity has led to the decision to stop allowing people free access from the sidewalk on the Canadian side.
CBP went on to say that starting October 1, 2025, all visitors who do come from Canadia must go through Customs if they want to use the main entrance to the library.
Haskell's Board of Trustees President, Sylvie Boudreau said she has a better solution.
'We will open a Canadian door. On the east side of the building we have an emergency exit. We're going to be able to go through that, go to the library and to the opera house, through that door,' said Boudreau.
She said modifications to the property will potentially cost more than $100,000, an expense she's hoping friends of the library will help cover.
You can find a go-fund-me site on Haskell's website here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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