About the Mookini Library
On this page:
Mission, Vision, Values, and Service Philosophy
Mission
The Edwin H. Mookini Library is a gathering place and a gateway to many sources of learning and knowledge for the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College ‘ohana as well as our diverse Hawaiʻi Island community. With a spirit of aloha and commitment to excellence, the Library provides resources, instruction, and services to encourage academic success and develop information-literate, lifelong learners.
Vision
In serving and partnering with the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College, the Mookini Library will be at the center of intellectual inquiry by inspiring and supporting learning and research for all students, faculty, and staff while remaining responsive to the unique needs of our users.
Values
In addition to supporting the Core Values of Librarianship as set out by the American Library Association , this Values Statement describes our organizational culture and shared beliefs to help guide us in our courses of action and form a foundation for our planning.
Service
Our highest priority is to meet the needs of our users in a professional, proactive, friendly, and enthusiastic way.
Learning
We promote the lifelong pursuit of knowledge and are committed to the academic success of our users.
Respect
We respect the diversity of our collections, staff, and users, and strive to create a climate of openness and appreciation.
Effective Communication
We strive to communicate with each other and our users with courtesy, honesty, and sensitivity to promote the effective and frequent exchange of ideas and information.
We believe in collaboration and teamwork, both with each other and with other departments and institutions to achieve common goals.
Service Philosophy
In support of the American Library Association Code of Ethics and the Library Bill of Rights, the Mookini Library Service Philosophy reflects the level of service you can expect from us. We are here to assist our users and to provide support and access to information through our print and electronic resources. Our Service Philosophy affords equal access to information for all in our academic community.
- We promise to:
- Act with courtesy, professionalism, and respect
- Respond to information needs promptly and positively
- Respect our users’ privacy and the need for confidentiality
- Listen to and respond to our users’ ideas and concerns with fairness and flexibility
- Work quickly to resolve any issues
- Support staff development to provide our users with high quality service
Approved: September 2011; Reviewed and approved: October 2024; Next scheduled review: October 2029
Edwin H. Mookini
Edwin H. Mookini
The Library was named for Edwin H. Mookini, professor of mathematics at UH Mānoa and Chancellor of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo from 1975-1978.
According to the Board of Regents’ Committee on Physical Facilities and Planning, Dr. Mookini observed a “lack of an adequate library facility and equally inadequate library collections” when he arrived on the campus in 1975. He immediately remedied the situation by obtaining funds for additional volumes for the library in order to build its collections to a level that was acceptable to the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Later, he obtained Capital Improvement Plan funds for a new library building, which opened in November 1981.
Dr. Mookini’s efforts on building the library that now bears his name are appreciated each and every day by the faculty, students, and staff of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College.
Please note that since Dr. Mookini did not use the ‘okina in his personal name, the correct spelling is Mookini Library or Edwin H. Mookini Library (but not Edwin Mookini Library).
Edith Kanakaʻole Hawaiian Collection
Learn more about the life and legacy of Edith Kanakaʻole, a remarkable kumu hula, educator, and civic leader. Edith Kanakaʻole Hall at UH Hilo was dedicated to “Aunty” Edith in 1984 and the Mookini Library’s Hawaiian Collection was renamed and dedicated as “Edith Kanakaʻole Hawaiian Collection” in 2023.