A library entrance is caught in between the U.S.-Canada border
NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe speaks to Sylvie Boudreau of the Haskell Free Library and Opera House as Canadians will no longer be allowed to use the American entrance to the building on the border with Quebec.
AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:
Since 1904, the Haskell Free Library & Opera House has straddled the Canadian and the Vermont border, literally. A black stripe running through the book stacks marks the border between the two countries. Citizens of both nations have been free to use the library as long as they exit the same door they enter. That’s set to change. The Department of Homeland Security said that drug traffickers and smugglers were exploiting the fact that Canadians could use the U.S. entrance without going through customs. The agency said it’s making the change to protect Americans.
Sylvie Boudreau lives on the Canadian side in Stanstead, Quebec. She’s the president of the library’s board of trustees, and she joins us now on the line. Welcome.
SYLVIE BOUDREAU: Hi.
RASCOE: For our listeners who aren’t familiar with the library, can you explain how the entry system currently works?
BOUDREAU: OK, the way it works is the main entrance is in United States, and there is a sidewalk that will cross the border. So that means that people that are in Canada – they have to use that sidewalk to enter the United States to use the main entrance. So it’s been like that for over 120 years, but starting Monday, that agreement is no longer validated.
RASCOE: Well, what’s your – what was your reaction to the U.S. saying that they were going to change this tradition, this agreement, and make all the Canadian visitors go through a – you know, a port of entry to get into the library?
BOUDREAU: I was angry. I was in disbelief. I couldn’t believe they would do something like that. But it wasn’t on my mind because few years ago, we had that discussion with USBP, with the authorities, and we were able to come to an agreement and to change a few little things, you know, inside the library so it would satisfy the authorities.
RASCOE: Well, has there been any problems with – you know, that you know of – with drugs crossing through the library…
BOUDREAU: Oh…
RASCOE: …Or some sort of illegal activity…
BOUDREAU: …There’s been…
RASCOE: …Or anything like that?
BOUDREAU: Yes. Few incidents happened, and, you know, I’m training my employees and my volunteers to be aware, to see if something is out of the ordinary, you know? And we do all that to help the authorities, but it was not enough, I guess.
RASCOE: So what has this library meant to the people of these two towns – Stanstead, Quebec, and Derby Line, Vermont?
BOUDREAU: It’s a connection with the two communities, with the two countries, with families, because, you know, there’s a lot of dual citizenship on both sides of the border. There’s a sense of friendship, a sense of family.
RASCOE: Are you concerned about the souring relations between the two countries? And President Trump keeps talking about Canada as the 51st state.
BOUDREAU: I can’t believe that. You know, really, I can’t believe that something like that is happening right now. I don’t like divisions. For me, Americans are my friends, my family, as much as my Canadians. I just want people to continue to look besides that and to see the real people.
RASCOE: Canadian Sylvie Boudreau is the president of the library’s board of trustees. Thank you for joining us.
BOUDREAU: Thank you very much.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG “THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND”)
THE TRAVELLERS: (Singing) This land is your. This land is my land, from Bonavista…
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