The Fisher-Watkins Library is dedicated to providing a comfortable environment designed to inspire academic achievement, critical and creative thinking, and recreational reading. With over 20,000 circulating and reference titles, the library supports the Cushing community with a carefully selected collection of traditional and electronic resources that offer access to information both within and outside the library.

Library Hours
Staff
Information Skills Instruction
Circulation Desk
Interlibrary Loan
Reserve Collections
Magazines
Copier
Displays

Information Skills Instruction
Instruction in information literacy and research skills is available upon demand. Ideally, the classroom teacher and librarian work collaboratively to develop lessons that integrate research skills with subject content. Faculty members are encouraged to meet with the librarians to plan and schedule classes.

Circulation Desk

• Students can borrow up to 6 books; faculty and staff can borrow 10 books. The loan period for students is three weeks; the faculty and staff loan period is four weeks.
• Books can be renewed unless previously reserved.
• There are no library fees for overdue items. The primary concern is that all items taken from the library are returned. Overdue notices will be sent out as a reminder to return the item(s). All library patrons will be assigned the replacement cost plus a $10.00 service fee for materials not returned at the end of the academic year.
• Videos can go out on overnight loan for students, one week for faculty.
• Reference Books, including encyclopedias and dictionaries, cannot be checked out. Magazines and newspapers are for in-library use only.
• A reservation can be made for a book or video that is currently unavailable. The request can be made at the Circulation Desk and notification will be made when it is available.

Interlibrary Loan
As a member of CMRLS, the Central Massachusetts Regional Library System, and CLASS, the Cooperative Library Association Shared System, the library is able to provide books, periodical articles, books-on tape and videos not currently available within its collection. Requests can be made at the Circulation Desk.

Reserve Collections
At certain times, a teacher will place outside reading assignments or books needed for class research on Reserve. These materials are kept behind the Circulation Desk and students should ask a library staff member for them. They may be checked out for a one-hour period and may not be taken from the library.

Magazines
The library provides a varied selection of magazines for both research and leisure reading. Current issues are displayed on the magazine racks on the lower level of the library. Back issues are stored in the periodical room or are available on microfiche and can be requested at the circulation desk. The library also has on-line access to searchable databases which provide full-text articles from hundreds of national and internationl magazines and newspapers.

Copier
The library copier is for student academic use only. Students can make up to 10 copies. There is no fee for this service. Students needing to make multiple copies as handouts must arrange with their teachers to use the faculty copier.

Displays
The two library display cases are used to celebrate national and international themes as well as to provide entertainment and information on curriculum-related topics, current events and social issues. Student groups and classes are welcome to assist in the development and construction of displays.