'It's a fun place to work': Matt Willis selected as new director of Willard Library

Greyson Steele, Battle Creek Enquirer
·2 min read

Matt Willis joined the Willard Library staff in 2002 with one goal in mind: To be the best librarian he could possibly be.

Over the course of 20 years, Willis has fallen in love with the library and all it has to offer.

Now, he'll be tasked with leading the organization into the future.

The Willard Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously June 14 to select Willis as the new director of the library, effective July 1. He will succeed Cathy Lucas, who is retiring June 30.

"I care about the library so much and I care about the community so much, and the staff, we just have an excellent staff, each and every one of them," Willis said. "It’s inspiring to work with them."

Matt Willis will serve as director of Willard Library beginning July 1.
Matt Willis will serve as director of Willard Library beginning July 1.

In March, the Board of Trustees hired Bradbury Miller Associates to conduct a national search for library director candidates. The search committee subsequently reviewed 13 applicants, conducted semifinal interviews, and ultimately recommended the board interview Willis.

Trustees voted unanimously to offer him the position June 14.

“Matt is the right candidate for our director,” board President James Keefer said in a press release. “We believe his experience, honesty, and commitment to the library and to the community make him the perfect fit.”

Lucas announced her retirement in February.

“My retirement concludes 27 wonderful years at Willard Library,” Lucas said in the release. “It has been my honor and privilege to serve Willard Library guests and the Battle Creek community. My congratulations to Matt. I know that he will serve the library well and am grateful for his leadership.”

Willis holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s in library information science from Wayne State University.

He joined the library in 2002 as the readers’ advisory librarian where he created the community-wide reading program Battle Creek Reads and launched the Book Club in a Bag service, according to the release.

The view above Willard Library in downtown Battle Creek.
The view above Willard Library in downtown Battle Creek.

Willis was named Reference and Adult Services Department head in 2014, started the Book a Librarian one-on-one reference service in 2015 and launched the library’s first annual African-American Celebration in 2016, according to the release.

He became reference and adult services senior manager in 2018 and was named deputy director of operations in 2020.

As director, Willis said he aims to continue the great work that the library has been doing — reaching out to diverse communities and expanding community partnerships and programming while "always taking a fresh look at our service."

He also wants to measure the library's impact in the community, with plans to commission outcome studies and surveys in the future.

"I think (the library) is really the vibrant heart of Battle Creek," Willis said. "It’s a fun place to work."

For more information about Willard Library, visit willardlibrary.org.

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-501-5661. Follow him on Twitter: G_SteeleBC

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Willard Library names new director