TAMHSC’s McKay receives Distinguished Achievement Award in Librarianship

As library services coordinator for the Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) Bryan and Temple campuses, Becky McKay easily navigates through the wealth of information housed in the Texas A&M University Medical Sciences Library (MSL). From journals to databases, she teaches students and faculty searching techniques, taking great pride and pleasure in helping with research.

For her efforts, the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students awarded McKay, M.A., MLIS, AHIP, with the Distinguished Achievement Award in Librarianship. The awards ceremony is in October.

Each fall, the association honors outstanding faculty members for their talent, expertise and devotion to conveying knowledge to students. One award is presented to reward, encourage and recognize a librarian who has made superior contributions to Texas A&M through outstanding accomplishment, dedication and service on behalf of all students.

“I am touched and honored to receive such a prestigious award,” said McKay, a medical librarian for 20 years, the last nine at the MSL. “Helping people, as health care providers and students know, is extremely rewarding. To receive an award for a job that is such a pleasure to do is icing on the cake!”

The MSL manages library spaces in Bryan, Temple, Round Rock and Kingsville. McKay has interviewed and hired staff, helped coordinate the transition from learning resources, and planned and managed daily library operations. She continually promotes the library to students and faculty to make them aware of the great resources available through the MSL.

With an affiliate faculty appointment in the TAMHSC-College of Nursing, McKay annually assists a evidence-based nursing class with its small group research projects. She also helped an Aggie veterinarian who came to the library to find information on the type of cancer his brother had been diagnosed with.

“Becky is well-known for her work with students and is often mentioned by name in LibQUAL+ comments,” said David H. Carlson, dean of Texas A&M University Libraries.

LibQUAL+ is a survey instrument used internationally to solicit library patrons’ opinions of service quality. It is rare for any particular individual to be named in LibQUAL+.

McKay has a bachelor’s in French from Centre College and master’s degrees from the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky and Louisiana State University.