Helen’s blog from Haskell Library
Helen's blog post about Haskell Library visit on Friday, July 21:
Before crossing the Canadian border, we stopped for a tour of the historic Haskell Free Library and Opera House. This library is unique as it is the only library in the world positioned on top of a closed border, part in Quebec and part in Vermont.
We admired the Victorian-style craftsmanship and discussed the history and the particular struggles of navigating two completely separate sets of laws and regulations and the library's role in cultural exchange.
There is also some bittersweet in this story; the two communities the library serves were once one, divided by increased border enforcement, and while the library once served as a neutral meeting point for separated families, post 9/11 attitudes towards border security led to the eradication of that practice.
Then straight across the border, arriving in Quebec with enough time to settle in before our celebratory group meal.
