Haskell Free Library and Opera House

It is best not to go past where the signs are since there is a police officer guarding the border line

A perfect place to illegally immigrate into either country and also a nice old library. May want to take a nap with each half in each country.

When we travel, we like to find local oddities to visit. The Haskell Free Library and Opera House definitely met our criteria. When I told my 11 year old that I wanted to visit a library on vacation I was met with a "are you crazy mom? ! " and "WHY? ! " I asked him when was the last time you were able to stand in two countries at once? Reluctantly, he went with me and we had fun looking at books in both English and French as well as standing on either side of the border. This is such a wonderful historical place to visit and the staff was very knowledgeable. I know it's in the name, but it's FREE!

In 2016 I came up here exploring the library and the legendary piece of tape that acts as a invisible border. I was able to film a little around the library including walk around the public library. Such a beautiful area, I think they removed the flower pots shortly after that. This place is a true connection between the towns from US to Canada. If you do enough research you will discover that borders are unlawful, we live in 2023 people. If I want to visit my family and friends in Canada I should have that right to do so. I feel so sorry for the town of Derby as many business shutdown because no one wants to be watched by US BORDER PATROL.by the I love the Canadian Border Patrol very kind and gentle and we even spoke french. I don't trust the government and we need to keep this beautiful library alive, willing to donate money. Knowledge is the keeper in our lives!

I will be on stage sept 8th for a fundraising concert for the Haskell Opera House. Tickets avalaible in the USA at Catamount Arts & in Canada on Eventbrite. Please share info. Thank you.

The experience was amazing. Staff can tell you the history of the library. Go back in time how it came on to what it is now.

Reminder to Canadians, be careful when you cross back the border lines by planters right in front of the library with a pedestal indicating Canada -US side. A border officer inside his park vehicle on the US side right beside the flower planters will YELL at you " HEY YOU CAN'T DO THAT! " as I cross back to Canadian side after I attended the library tour.

In my humble opinion, there is a better, professional and polite way to do it than yelling.

A nice place to comfortably relax and to watch a play when there is a performance. However, visitors should know that this is a small facility primarily serving the needs of people living nearby on both sides of the border. And that, as stated on its website, it is not a border crossing. The entrance is on the U. S.side, so Canadians (and Americans who blunder into Canada) have to go through customs. When it was built, its much ballyhooed location on both sides of the border was more functional than symbolic. That was when no one needed to show anyone anything to travel between the U. S.and Canada. It was also long before 9-11 made a border crossing anywhere difficult, and long, long before COVID for a time made a border crossing anywhere all but impossible. Visitors and staff have no choice but to comply with the laws of both the U. S.and Canada, and must make the best they can of the situation.

Cute little Canadian library with its entrance in the USA. It’s intent as a way to bring the two communities together ruined by tribal small mindedness by those who decide how the border operates.

Just saw "Into the Woods" with the Boardline Players. The Opera House is gorgeous and a very fun venue. Will return to tour the building!

It's not Casa Loma but the feeling that you can do Hopscotch from US to Canada and back is really special

Super loving experience. A magical place to enjoy reading as a family and feel the border of and

A very unique opera house that happens to have a library attached. The fact that it's on the Vermont/Quebec border just adds to the novelty. If you are eligible for a library card here, get one!

Hadn't been in a while. Two sweet smiling ladies found my info and helped me recall favorite author. Library was clean, warm, and lots of new titles.

Wonderful tour by Evelyne! What a treat, she knew so much history and modern day information of the library, the Haskells, Derby Line (US side), and Stansted (Canadian side) towns. The opera house is just beautiful. We will definitely be back in the spring/fall to catch a show. This is a must see in Vermont. Thank you, Evelyne!