New director of UH Hilo Mookini Library to start June 29
Joseph Sanchez, who has been serving as director of a public library system in Colorado, is a nationally recognized leader on e-books, e-content, technology and intellectual property in public libraries.
The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo welcomes a new director of the Edwin H. Mookini Library. Joseph Sanchez, who starts his new position on June 29, arrives at UH Hilo after heading the eight-branch Mesa County Public Libraries in Grand Junction, Colorado, for five years. While there, he expanded the number of library users and created innovative ways to engage the public by reaching out to local artists, schools, businesses and other sectors of the community.
“Joseph is a true leader in his profession,” says Ken Hon, UH Hilo interim vice chancellor for academic affairs. “His out-of-the-box thinking has enabled him to consistently develop new and creative ways for libraries to serve their patrons and attract new users. We eagerly look forward to him bringing that approach to UH Hilo.”
Some of Sanchez’s noted projects at Mesa County Public Libraries are the creation of a multimedia production studio, an artist-in-residence program, and an online repository of library-produced videos. He also is a nationally recognized leader on e-books, e-content, technology and intellectual property in public libraries.
- Learn more: Library Director Joseph Sanchez to leave for new position in Hawaii (media release from Mesa County Public Libraries, June 1, 2018).
Previously, Sanchez served as instructional designer responsible for multimedia content production at Auraria Library in Denver, Colorado. Before that he was director of Library and Learning Services at Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, Colorado, and a reference librarian at Georgina Cole Library in Carlsbad, California.
As an adjunct professor, Sanchez taught courses on mass media and culture at Colorado Mesa University, core graduate-level courses for the University of Denver’s library and information science program, and undergraduate courses in algebra, English and physical education at Red Rocks Community College.
A motivational speaker for at-risk youth, he has been deeply involved in K-12 education as both a teacher and a librarian.
He received his master of library and information science from San Jose State University.
