JACKSON, MI – Calvin Battles was in a Michigan State University class where the professor asked students do an ice breaker by writing down on a notecard what they wanted to do in life.
Most of the other students were pursuing careers such as lawyers or U.S president, Battle said. But he wrote that he wanted to help people.
“I’ve taken that desire and figured out a way I could do it that makes me feel good,” Battles said.
That desire and how he employs it at the Jackson District Library has contributed to Battles, 37, being named one of 41 “Movers & Shakers” by Library Journal, a national trade publication for librarians and libraries.
The 20th annual round of “Movers & Shakers” profiles up-and-coming individuals who are innovative, creative and making a difference inside libraries. This can either be librarians and non-degreed library workers to publishers, vendors, entrepreneurs and others who impact the library field.
Battles, the library’s adult services coordinator, was born and raised in Jackson. His mother was a Jackson Public Schools teacher, and he spent lots of time as a child at the library’s downtown Jackson Carnegie branch.
His parents were avid readers, so books came easy to him. His favorite growing up, was the Goosebumps series by R. L. Stine.
“I was totally addicted,” he said. “I would make my parents go to Waldenbooks -- they came out the third Tuesday of the month -- and I’d wait at the door like, ‘Come on, we got to get the new Goosebumps book,’” Battles said, with a laugh.
After he graduated from Jackson High School in 2003, Battles attended Michigan State University and received a bachelor’s degree in English. Upon graduation, he said he thought he wanted to become a teacher, but had a change of heart when another opportunity arrived.
His childhood neighbor was diagnosed with cancer, stopping her from finishing the remainder of the year in her job as a Jackson Public Schools librarian. He stepped in to take over and instantly fell in love with the work.
“I quickly realized that the library environment was a little better for me than a classroom,” Battles said. “The first thing that drew me to it was a love for reading and helping people find something that they would enjoy – if you find a kid a book they enjoy, they will become lifelong readers.”
So, Battles went back to school to pursue a master’s degree in library and information science at Wayne State University. He hired by the Jackson District Library in 2012, first starting as a librarian at the Middle School at Parkside.
Battles was a leading member in a 2013 project to bring Parkside’s media center back to life.
Related: Media center project at Jackson’s Middle School at Parkside receives nearly $11,000 from Kiwanis
During the project, Battles worked with Alro Steel to bring in tables to the library, hoping to add a space where students could sit at for lunch without being overloaded by the loud and busy cafeteria, he said.
“It became a really nice space,” Battles said. “That age is a really hard time. That library provided a safe haven for certain types of kids who were having a hard time.”
Later, he moved on to work at the Carnegie Library, doing everything from keeping a diverse reading selection to answering people’s questions.
However, he said his biggest achievements happened in the last year with his work to help area residents expunge criminal convictions from their records.
Many residents were eligible to have their convictions expunged, but the process was daunting, JDL officials said. To help, Battles and others in a group of area nonprofits and service agencies, including the United Way of Jackson County and Michigan Legal Help, determined the most efficient ways to use their resources and got to work.
Initially, the group set up expungement fairs to provide resources and information. After their success, the group looked for a place to have a permanent expungement service available, and the Carnegie Library was picked. To date, more than 50 people have signed up and received help that enabled them to gain housing, get promotions and qualify for jobs, officials said.
“When people come back and talk to us about it, they say it has had a positive impact on them,” Battles said.
Battles appreciates that he’s been given the “movers and shakers” honor, but he said he didn’t do it alone.
“It means a lot, but I want to make sure that the people who deserve equal amounts of credit, get it.” Battles said.
Battles thanked JDL Director Sara Tackett and Carnegie Branch Manager Ann Neff-Rohs, as well as Adult Services Librarians Christiane Evaskis-Garrett and Robyn Pierce for their work and support.
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