Sharon Mckellar Email & Phone Number

Oakland, Ca

Member of leadership team, responsible for planning & implementing programs, processes, policy, and decisions that have impact across a 400+ employee, 18-location organization. Worked on migration of public website content to new platform. Advised & supported the project lead on new site structure, content taxonomy, information architecture, & design. Created an in-depth style guide for the library system.Oversaw the work of the library’s reopening planning team, deciding how to safely reopen for limited indoor services at all of our locations after over a year of COVID closure. Advised staff on how to create a safe & realistic plan & how to strategically avoid & respond to potential issues. Produced manual about post-pandemic service, ensuring all staff were fully knowledgeable and resourced. Established OPL Gender Diversity Task Force & serve as the executive sponsor to the 9-member committee that evaluates policy, provides training & staff support, serves as advisory to leadership, & works on projects and programming in support of creating an inclusive and welcoming organization for people of all genders.Oversee the department budget including grants, staffing, collections, & programs.Oversee employees across all levels including managers.Plan, direct, & coordinate department efforts including city-wide programs (including the Oakland Youth Poet Laureate program), internal policy development, staff onboarding & training, & organizational partnerships.Serve as advisor to branch locations, library departments, administration, & staff members, supporting their work with teens & detailing the potential impact of organizational decisions on teen patrons.Support staff across the system in reaching & engaging positively with teens using restorative practices.Work with department staff to support them in succeeding at meeting organizational, departmental, and individual goals through strategic planning and implementation of projects and programs.

Oakland, California, United States

Used previous department experience, institutional knowledge, and deep understanding of tech and design to step in to provide support and management to the team when the department head left the organization.After remaining senior staff members also left the organization, developed and proposed a plan for restructure of the department.Upon plan adoption, supported the building of a new team by hiring staff from outside the organization and helping junior staff grow into more impactful senior roles.Currently finalizing development of a strategic in-depth onboarding for all members of the newly structured department with long-term structure in place for continued learning and support as they grow into new roles. Hold the vital tasks of the department, including website development, structure, and architecture, Intranet maintenance, media relations, and working with internal stakeholders to support all their web, promotional, and communication needs.

Oversaw print and digital content, publicity, public relations, internal and external communications, and publications for the Oakland Public Library system.Was direct advisor to Director of Library Services on crisis communications, media relations and appearances, partnership opportunities, and decision making around large-scale purchases with system-wide impact.Served as the point of contact for reporters and other members of the media.Was responsible for content and design of the public website as well as social media for the library system.Oversaw creation of yearly Annual Report, system-wide rebranding process, our first library card design contest, and a complete overhaul, based on staff feedback, of staff newsletter.Served as the Oakland Public Library’s Public Information Officer and liaison to the citywide Communications Team. Served on city-wide committees.Supervised Website Development and Community Relations staff.Provided training to library staff on website content addition, media relations, program publicity and more.Participated in the library’s three-year strategic planning process, leading on multiple tasks.

Children’s Librarian and Branch Manager at locations embedded in Oakland communities, primarily in East Oakland. Focus on early literacy, diverse books and materials, community-driven programming, and staff support and development.National, state, and local committee membership and leadership including: national grant evaluation, book selection, leadership development, and intellectual freedom committees, state leadership development and youth services committees, and local training, critical response, and civic engagement committees.

Hobo year.

Held the responsibilities of a librarian specializing in children’s and teen services in a large branch library while working on my Master’s in Library and Information Science.

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Supported the work of this Washington DC based full-service public relations consulting firm working with advocacy groups, philanthropic foundations, think tanks, and other organizations addressing critical social issues nationally. Clients included the Family Violence Prevention Fund and the National Partnership for Women & Families.

Master Of Library & Information Science - Mlis, Library And Information Science

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Psychology (Minor: Sociology)

High School Diploma