During a reunion with my Rowell cousins, we went on an outing to the Haskell Free Library and Opera House. Yes, my friends, the top floor is an opera house, although it is used for many types of events.

The most interesting thing about this Library, however, is not that it has an opera house, but that it straddles the US – Canadian border. It has two addresses, one in Derby Line, Vermont and one in Stanstead, Quebec. Black tape runs through the children’s room and throughout the library to mark the line.

As a librarian, I had to ask about the inner workings of the library. Everyone receives the same card and is treated the same. They receive funds from both towns, as well as from donations and the sale of a variety of souvenirs. Their circulation system comes from Quebec, which must make Interlibrary Loan interesting. (Most of New York State is broken up into systems like Westchester Library System of the Ramapo Catskill Library System and usually, although not always, cover multiple counties. The libraries in each system share a card and books fly from one library to another. Interlibrary loan is used for books from the other systems. ) Haskell has a large French section and many of their flyers are in both languages. And they owned my first book: A Simple Murder, which I signed for them.

This past year they had to construct a special entrance and exit for the Canadians.

Outside is the line, marked with granite blocks and cameras and signs threatening all kinds of punishment for crossing it.

Thanks to my cousin Barbara for arranging this. Truly a highlight.