The Current Live at the Haskell Free Library, right on the U.S. border
Nov 21, 2025
Join bestselling author Louise Penny as she reflects on her new novel and the significance of the Haskell Free Library. Polaris Prize-winner Patrick Watson shares insights into his album Uh-Oh and the emotional power of his performances. Vermont's Secretary of Agriculture, Anson Tevitz, discusses the challenges faced by migrant farmworkers and the importance of cross-border relationships. Sarah Webster provides a glimpse into daily life in the border community, revealing how local residents navigate their unique reality amid fluctuating tensions.
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Library As Border Bridge
- The Haskell Free Library physically and symbolically embodies US–Canada unity by literally straddling the border with a marked line on the floor.
- The venue highlights how deeply intertwined daily life and services are across Stanstead and Derby Line.
Fiction Foretold Political Reality
- Louise Penny's novel imagined a plot to make Canada the 51st state before the phrase entered political rhetoric.
- Fiction anticipated and sharpened public concern, prompting her to speak out and reconsider touring decisions.
Author Funds A New Door
- Louise Penny donated $50,000 to create a Canadian-side door when access changed, calling it a symbolic response to closed options.
- She framed the new door as an elegant act of opening when others closed theirs.