Bartlesville Public Library Director Shellie McGill will retire this month after 35 years of service with the City of Bartlesville. McGill, who also oversees the Bartlesville Area History Museum and administrative services for White Rose Cemetery, has served in leadership roles with the City since 2000 when she was promoted from accounting clerk in the Accounting & Finance Department to Utility Billing supervisor. She was named Human Resources director in 2007, and took on her current roles in 2019. McGill talked about her life and career for this edition of City Beat.
Tell us about your early life. Where did you grow up and attend school?
My grandparents were in Bartlesville and Dewey. I grew up here and in the Tulsa area. I graduated from Claremore Sequoyah High School.
Where did you go to college and what did you study?
I attended college at Rogers State University and at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, where I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in business and human resources.
What other positions did you hold before joining the City of Bartlesville?
Before working for the City, I worked at BancOklahoma Mortgage Corp and Rogers County Bank.
What made you decide to apply for a job with the City?
I moved to Bartlesville when I married my husband, David. After commuting to Tulsa for four years to work at BancOklahoma Mortgage Corp and hearing great things about the City, I applied and was hired.
What positions have you held with the City?
I worked as an account clerk with Accounting and Finance; secretary for the Engineering Division, in IT as an applications support specialist, as the Water Customer Service manager, in Human Resources as the HR assistant, HR generalist, HR manager and HR director. I ended my career with the city as the Library and History Museum director.
As library director, you initiated and have had oversight of several new programs and services offered by the library. Can you tell us about some of those?
My favorite new service is our Things Collection. It is just what it sounds like. It is a collection of over 200 things that we lend out like musical instruments, telescopes, tools, crafting items, cooking items, etc. We added a collection of cake pans, we now lend video games and we lend outdoor games. I have enjoyed updating our amazing library to a community space!
What about some of the projects that are more instantly recognizable by the public?
Most recently the skylights replacements have been an awesome addition. They let so much light into the library. We look like we glow now! Staff has turned down sunscreen but it was a close thing. The face-out shelving for the children’s picture books has made finding a book for young children so much more fun. Looking for books when you could only see the book spines — and you cannot read — was a bit of a challenge for them. I also love the addition of the automatically opening doors. They have made access so much easier for everyone.
What do you feel are your greatest accomplishments in your career with the City?
Two things. When I was in Human Resources, I loved setting up our benefits plan and negotiating with vendors to get the best benefit options and pricing. While at the library I have loved evolving our library from a very traditional library to a library that is a community hub, meeting the diverse needs and expectations of most who enter our facility.
Do you have any regrets or things you wish you had done differently?
No. The city has been a wonderful employer and the job we do for our community is very rewarding.
What has been the best thing about being the library/history museum director and/or working for the City of Bartlesville?
I loved sharing how people can save money by using the library. They typically do not know even a quarter of the services we provide. I loved showing off our awesome museum and wowing people with the services they provide to our community.
What has been the most challenging thing about being library director?
Providing the most positive and inviting environment for the community. Every person has their idea of what that looks like. Providing a welcoming environment that satisfied almost everyone is something my team was able to accomplish.
What challenges do think Bartlesville and local government face going into future?
Anticipating our community’s needs and having funding to adequately address those needs in a timely manner.
McGill and husband David are set for camping and boating after her retirement.
What will you miss the most?
Using my problem-solving skills! I love the challenge of finding a solution that addresses a problem in an awesome way.
What does the future hold for you? Do you have any plans after retirement?
I look forward to camping and boating. I hope to also find a board to serve on so that I can give back to the community.
If you could sum up your leadership and experience with the City in just a few sentences, what would you say?
I feel blessed to have worked for the City of Bartlesville and appreciate the excellent leadership, peers and coworkers that I have worked with. Not many cities are as well managed as Bartlesville. It has been a fantastic career that has provided me boundless opportunities, personal satisfaction, and has allowed me to support my family well. It is rewarding to be appreciated by the community. Thank you, Bartlesville!