Behind every borrowed book and library visit is a story worth sharing. Bookmarked: Stories from the Stacks celebrates the people who bring the Galesburg Public Library to life. This is Reginald's story.
Dr. Reginald Ball is a man on the move—and full of life. A preacher, professor, and writer, he's lived in cities across the country: Atlanta, Charlotte, Phoenix, Memphis, Oxford, and most recently, Galesburg. His conversations sparkle with humor, energy, and insight. He’s the kind of person who can turn a trip to Planet Fitness into a philosophical reflection, or a book title into a full-blown sermon. His time in Galesburg was meant to be temporary, a short academic appointment at a nearby college. But as Reginald packed up his life again, preparing for another move, he realized that something unexpected had rooted itself deep: a connection to the Galesburg Public Library.
"This is what moving looks like for me today," he reflected, holding up two books he had just discovered on display. "They were out, and I'm going to look at them before I leave Monday."
For Reginald, the library became more than a building. It was a space of stability during moments of great transition—a place with internet when he didn’t have access at home, a quiet spot to write and think, and a curated source of intellectual companionship.
"I buy books. I don't have internet at my house. I use this place," he said. "The curation here is amazing. Books I didn’t even know I needed have found me."
Even as life shifted around him—jobs ending, apartments emptying, plans changing—the library remained steady. It reminded him of his father, a man of work and faith, and helped him reflect on the path that led him to where he is now: a professor with a PhD, a writer shaping his next chapter.
And that next chapter is already underway. Reginald is currently working on a book titled Joel Osteen Pastors America: Race and the American Dream —a bold, insightful look at race, religion, and capitalism in the U.S., grounded in his academic research and real-life experiences. Rutgers University Press has already expressed interest, and Reginald is pouring his heart into making the manuscript sing.
"I'm trying to funnel all that preaching energy into my writing," he said with a laugh. “This book is my next big message.”
He may be returning to Birmingham, but a piece of Reginald’s story—and his unmistakable spark—will always live between the stacks in Galesburg.
