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US government blocks Canadian access to border-straddling library, Canadian town says


Published on 2025-03-21 15:00:56 - Reuters
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  • A Quebec town is calling out what it says is a unilateral decision by U.S. authorities to close Canadian access to a library that straddles the Canada-U.S. border. The Haskell Free Library and Opera House straddles the Canada-U.

The U.S. government has blocked Canadian access to the Haskell Free Library and Opera House, which straddles the border between Derby Line, Vermont, and Stanstead, Quebec. This decision has left the Canadian town of Stanstead without access to this historic library, which has served as a unique cultural and communal space for over a century. The library, built intentionally on the border in 1901, allowed patrons from both countries to enter freely. However, due to heightened security measures and border control policies, the U.S. has now restricted this access, impacting the community's use of the library for events, reading, and social gatherings. The closure has sparked discussions on the implications for cross-border relations and the future of such binational institutions.

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[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/us-government-blocks-canadian-access-to-border-straddling-library-canadian-town-says/ar-AA1BoJH4 ]