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Haskell Free Library Inaugurates Canadian Door

Restoring direct entry for Canadians without a U.S. port-of-entry check, the new entrance spotlights tensions between local cross-border ties and U.S. border enforcement.

The Haskell Free Library & Opera House is inaugurating its "Canadian Door" on Wednesday. Canadians have been accessing the border-straddling library through an emergency door after the Trump administration barred them from the main entrance, which is on the US side.

Overview

  • The Haskell Free Library formally opened its Canadian entrance on Wednesday, restoring in‑building access for Canadians who had been required to report to a U.S. port of entry since last October.
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection tightened access to the library’s U.S. side in October 2025 because it said the area had seen a rise in illicit cross‑border activity, including incidents that led to apprehensions.
  • The library completed the permanent Canadian door in April after using a temporary Stanstead entrance during renovations, work made complex by the building’s granite construction.
  • The project introduced a new sidewalk, parking and wheelchair‑accessible facilities and carried a significant price tag, with the library estimating about $500,000 and a Canadian Press report putting the total near $700,000 with roughly half funded by donations and a GoFundMe drive.
  • Wednesday’s inauguration, hosted by Jean‑René Dufort and featuring speeches from Quebec’s Christopher Skeete and a video message from U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, underlined local solidarity and restored everyday access for residents who had been forced to take a longer route to visit the shared public space.