SPEC Kit 330: Library Contribution to Accreditation · 165
Texas A&M University
SACS Reaffirmation of Accreditation. Comprehensive Standard 3.8.3
Section 3: Comprehensive Standards Standard 3.8.3, Page 2
As one of the libraries under the Texas A&M University Libraries (TAMUL) umbrella, the
Medical Sciences Library (MSL) serves as the anchor library for delivering information
resources and services to the Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAM HSC). The MSL has
four physical sites and serves all schools, centers, institutes, campuses and students of the TAM
HSC. The central administration of MSL is located in College Station, with specialized onsite
collections and services provided at campuses in Bryan, Kingsville and Round Rock. MSL
librarians deliver services, expertise and educational programs to the campuses in Bryan,
Kingsville, Round Rock and Temple. In addition, librarians at BHSL in Dallas provide
resources and services in support of the programs at the TAM HSC-BCD.
The MSL staffing includes 14 tenure track faculty, 3 non-academic professionals and 9
paraprofessionals plus a number of part time student assistants whose collective work hours are
equivalent to 5 full-time workers. Each MSL tenure track faculty holds the terminal degree of
practice, a Master of Library Science, from an institution accredited by the American Library
Association. In addition, 43% of them also hold graduate degrees in academic or professional
fields such as nutrition, public health and information science and advanced certificates in
informatics. Of the 14 tenure track faculty, 5 hold the rank of assistant professor, 7 are tenured
as associate professors, and 2 are tenured with the rank of professor. Five of the tenure track
faculty also hold joint appointments within the professional schools served by MSL. As
members of the TAMUL faculty, MSL faculty are governed by a system of faculty governance
[Library Faculty Bylaws] and criteria for tenure and promotion [Statement on Appointment,
Promotion, and Tenure]. The criteria for promotion and tenure establish ongoing expectations
for continuous faculty activity in a program of research and publication as well as professional
service. One of the requirements for promotion and tenure specifically for MSL faculty is to
achieve membership in the Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP), the
credentialing program of the Medical Library Association [Academy of Health Information
Professionals]. The MSL pays for any credentialing costs associated with AHIP. A program of
post tenure review is in place at the TAMUL as required by Texas A&M University [Post Tenure
Review Documentation]. All of these underscore the need for librarians to enhance and refine
their professional expertise.
The other three non-academic professionals on the MSL staff include a Business Manager, an
Administrative Coordinator, and a Computer Specialist, all of whom have the education and
experience necessary to fulfill their responsibilities. The nine paraprofessionals on the MSL staff
are encouraged to develop and enhance their skills through a library career ladder. As they gain
expertise and meet performance benchmarks, they are rewarded with a promotion and salary
increase which is currently 7% [Texas A&M University Classification Specifications for Library
Career Ladder]. MSL staffing levels are stable, having only a 4% turnover rate for each of the
past three years. MSL staff are experienced and well-trained the composite years of library
experience represented by all MSL staff is over 230 years.
The MSL annually budgets $2,000 per tenure track faculty and non-academic professional staff
member to use at individual discretion for professional development and travel. All faculty and
staff can request additional funding through the MSL director or through the TAMUL Personnel
Development Committee (PDC) for job-related skill enhancement opportunities. Currently an
additional $22,000 in travel funding is available through the MSL administration and the PDC’s
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