Our unique, underground library connects the lower academic quad with the Main Building and is a central hub of activity on campus.

Library, Resource Center, and Hub of Activity

The mission of the Fisher-Watkins Library is to provide equitable access to the resources and tools required for learning. The library plays an important role in helping to prepare students for academic success at the college level, and offers a comfortable place to work and study. 

Students develop research skills using our extensive collection of print and digital resources. In addition, the library offers an array of print and eBooks for students’ recreational reading. Through these resources and other programming, the library strives to provide each student with a strong foundation in information literacy, academic research, and lifelong learning.

• Access the Fisher-Watkins Library Catalog

E-books and Audiobooks

The Fisher-Watkins Library uses Sora by Overdrive for ebooks and audiobooks.  Download the Sora app through the Google Play or Apple App store, and sign in by finding Cushing Academy as your school and logging in with your Cushing Google credentials.

You can also access Sora online here.

More titles are available if you connect the Boston Public Library (or potentially your home library) to your Sora account. Please see the librarian to assist you with this.

As a legacy option for ebooks and audiobooks, the Fisher-Watkins Library maintains a number of preloaded Kindle devices.  When filling out a book request form, the librarian will determine whether we already have access to a title via our Kindle collection.

Reference

The best way to start research is to first consult trustworthy, authoritative reference materials to gather a general perspective on the topic.  The Fisher-Watkins library provides solid reference material through the following sources.

• Credo Reference Collection (Google Authentication)Credo Source provides a one-stop research platform to support college readiness and information literacy instruction.  With access to more than 400 highly acclaimed reference titles, dozens of engaging instructional materials, and connections to our other subscription databases, Source is the ideal starting point for any research project.
   
• Oxford Reference OnlineThe Oxford Reference Premium Collection combines quick-reference coverage of the full subject spectrum with the rich resources of the Oxford Companions. From ready-reference to comprehensive scholarly articles, The Premium Collection provides librarians and end-users with reliable and authoritative answers to their research questions.
   
• Britannica Online LibraryBritannica Library combines a comprehensive encyclopedia with a dictionary, thesaurus, atlas and more.

Databases

The Fisher-Watkins Library maintains a tailored selection of databases to support the full curriculum. Any bibliographic data from journals or articles contained in these databases that do not include full-text may be requested using the article request form.

• JSTOR Premiere source for electronic access to back runs of more than 2,000 important scholarly journals. (Only available on campus)
• Academic OneFile Complete source for peer-reviewed scholarly articles across all academic disciplines.
• Gale Databases Access to our full suite of databases from Gale, including further subject-specific databases as well as general reference, newspaper databases, and test prep software.
• General OneFile Magazine, news, and journal articles on general interest topics and current events.
• Literature Resource Center Biography, criticism, and overviews on writers and specific works in all disciplines.
• World History in Context Academic articles, videos, primary documents and more on topics in World History
• Science in Context Academic articles, videos, experiments and more.
• Global Issues in Context International academic perspectives on global issues.
• Fine Arts Articles on art history, music, drama, filmmaking, and related fields.

Periodicals

The Fisher-Watkins Library is committed to providing reliable news sources for the Cushing Academy Community. Access login information through MyCushing or contact the librarian.

• The New York Times
• The Wall Street Journal

Periodical Databases

To search for past articles from either the New York Times or the Boston Globe or other regional, national or world newspapers, please use the databases linked below.

• The New York Times
• The Boston Globe
• News

• Classroom Video by Films on Demand Classroom Video on Demand serves the specific needs of students who are preparing for college by providing top-quality video across the entire high school curriculum, including life skills and guidance. Access login information through MyCushing or contact the librarian.

If there are any materials that you would like, please submit the appropriate request using the forms below.

• Book purchase request form
• Article request form
• Interlibrary loan request form

In this quiet academic space, students are expected to protect the integrity of the library environment. The library should be conducive to study at all times as soon as students enter the space; whether at tables or reading areas, doing group work, or when passing through. Coursework that necessitates collaboration may require a private space and students should work with the librarian to find an appropriate spot that is not disruptive. 

• Borrowing Library Materials - All materials available to be borrowed, including DVDs, printed books and digital devices, may be checked out at the circulation desk. As a circulating library, materials should be returned by their due date. Vacation loans are also available. If a student loses or fails to return a library item by the end of the term, they will be charged the replacement cost plus a $10.00 service fee. Students and faculty are encouraged to recommend books that they would like to see in the library. 
   
• Database Instruction - The librarian is happy to work with teachers, classes, and individuals on the use of our databases, for general use or relating to a specific project. 
   
• Library/Faculty Collaboration - The librarian is happy to collaborate with teachers to give lessons on research topics they are teaching, either with whole classes or individual students, or both. 
   
• Computers - The library is equipped with wireless internet access for laptop users. In addition, there are ten desktop computers and two printers available for student use during library hours. 
   
• Food/Drink - Food and drink are allowed in the library insofar as students demonstrate responsibility for cleaning up what they bring in. Food or drink containers without lids, such as cereal bowls, ice cream cones, and coffee mugs, are not allowed in the library. 
   
• Chargers - Phone chargers are available for use at the circulation desk, however, we do not have a supply of laptop chargers. 
   
• Reserving Materials - Teachers may place library materials on reserve at the circulation desk where students may check them out for use in the library only. 
   
• Reserving Space - To avoid overcrowding, faculty and club leaders are requested to sign up for library space for various classes or club meetings. Email the librarian directly to get the event on the library calendar. 
   
• Library Study Hall Guidelines - [Monday-Thursday nights, 8:00-10:00 pm] The library has thirty spaces available for study hall. Students must reserve a space by emailing the library at [email protected] by 6:00 pm on the day of their request. When the spaces are filled, an announcement will be posted on the CA Community Forum. Students must sign out of their dorms and arrive at the library by 7:50 pm and sign in. Any student who is not signed in by that time will be asked to return to their dorm. All residential students in Library Study Hall must stay in the Library until the end of Study Hall at 9:55 pm and check-in at their dorms by 10:00 pm. Day students must also sign in and sign out. Use of the silent room is at the discretion of the faculty on duty. Any inappropriate behavior during study hall will result in the student being asked to leave, plus accountability points.
  
  Note: Only juniors and seniors may use the library study hall from the beginning of the school year until Fall Family Weekend. After that, freshmen and sophomores may also attend. 

Library Staff