DERBY, Vt. (AP) — For Allyson Howell, her hometown library is more than just a place to borrow a book; it’s also a unique space where different cultures from the U.S. and Canada have mingled and developed ties for more than a century.
Howell and others fear that could change under a new regulation implemented by President Donald Trump’s administration as tensions continue to rise between the two countries.
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House straddles the line between Howell’s village of Derby Line, Vermont, and the town of Stanstead, Quebec. The entrance to the imposing Victorian-style brick and stone building is on the U.S. side, but an informal agreement between the two countries has always allowed Canadians to enter without a passport.
Canadians cross the border on a sidewalk leading directly to the library that is monitored by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The nearest border checkpoint is not within eyesight of the building.
Inside the …