EDWARD DE BONO’S SIX THINKING HATS IN THE

CONTEXT OF VOLUNTEERISM

EDWARD DE BONO’S

6 HATS OF THINKING

Which hat must you wear to be an effective volunteer at a library

Logical Cautious Intuitive

VOLUNTEERISM IS AN ACT OF SERVITUDE BUT HOW CAN

ONE’S OFFERINGS BE ENHANCED TO OFFER BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND END

USER SATISFACTION?

TRY SWITCHING HATS.

IN THE LIBRARY YOU WILL FIND A TEAM OF LIBRARIANS

AND VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY.

How are objectives for the day determined, delegated, and completed?

Everyone puts on their thinking hats!

U S I N G T H E M O D E L O F E D WA R D D E B O N O ’ S 6 H AT S O F T H I N K I N G A S A G U I D E , T H E G R E E N H AT W I L L B E P L A C E D O N L I B R A RY PA RT I C I PA N T S . W I T H S U C H A D I V E R S E P O O L O F C L I E N T E L E S , L I B R A R I A N S A N D H E L P E R S M U S T B E C R E AT I V E TO S AT I S F Y T H E N E E D S O F A L L .

Reflections of a Volunteer:

As a volunteer for the local elementary library, I must engage young minds and at times motivate children to select books that challenge yet entertain them. Librarians use technology and creative teaching techniques to keep students attention during lessons.

Whoever said the library was boring hasn’t been to an elementary library.

WITH A BLUE HAT SNUGLY ON, LIBRARY WORKERS MUST ORGANIZE RETURNED BOOKS, USE A FORMALIZED SYSTEM TO CATEGORIZE BOOKS USING THE ALPHABET AND NUMERIC REFERENCES, AND RESHELF BOOKS FOR IMMEDIATE USE BY PATRONS.

Reflections of a Volunteer:

One of the most time consuming tasks in a library is checking in and sorting returned materials and books.

In is rather rewarding when you see the book you have just returned in the hands of a smiling child.

THE SW IFTLY C HANGING ENVIR ONMENT IN THE LIB R ARY, R EQUIR ES W OR KERS TO PUT ON THEIR YELLOW HAT. L IB RAR IANS MUST R EMAIN OPTIMISTIC THAT EVERY C LIENT W ILL R ECEIVE THE HELP THEY NEED W HEN THEY NEED IT. QUITE OFTEN RESOUR C ES ARE LIMITED AND HELP IS SCAR CE SO THE YELLOW HATS MUST BE LAC ED W ITH R ED, BLUE, AND GR EEN R IB B ONS TO GET THE J OB DONE.

Reflections of a Volunteer:

Sometimes I feel like Curious George running wildly through the isles of the library. There are always so many mysteries to uncover, new challenges to face, and excited children to play with.

IS IT LOGICAL TO HAVE ALL W ORKERS TO DO THE SAME TASK OR J OB IN THE LIB R ARY? OF C OURSE NOT. THUS, LIB RARIANS AND HELPER S MUST C AREFUL SCHEDULE PEOPLE, APPR OPR IATELY DELEGATE W OR KER S, AND MATC H PEOPLE TALENT W ITH LIB RARY ROLES AND PATR ON NEEDS .

Reflections of a Volunteer: Each week a group of volunteers put our white hats on a self appoint each other to specific roles. As we want every to experience the responsibilities of library workers, positions are rotated. We assess each day and delegate accordingly. When I have on the white hat my job is to make sure that we are logically tackling tasks and assisting patrons in the most efficient way.

T H E R E A R E T I M E S W H E N L I B R A R I A N S A N D V O L U N T E E R S M U S T P U T O N T H E I R B L A C K H AT O F C A U T I O N . P L A G I A R I S M R U L E S C O P Y R I G H T L AW S , A N D R E G U L AT I O N S M U S T B E A D H E R E D T O AT A L L T I M E S . PAT R O N I N F O R M AT I O N M U S T B E P R O T E C T E D T O B E I N C O M P L I A N C E W I T H O R G A N I Z AT I O N A L A N D F E D E R A L M A N D AT E S .

Reflections of a Volunteer:

Security or cautionary action is not usually thought of when the library is concerned. Put I must confess, there are many unwritten rules and potential threats lurking around the book nook. When I have on the Black Hat, my job is to ensure compliance and safety. And I take my job very serious.

U S I N G B O N O ' S R E D T H I N K I N G H AT, L I B R A R I A N S A N D V O L U N T E E R S M U S T B E I N T U I T I V E . T H E Y M U S T A N T I C I PAT E T H E N E E D O F PAT R O N S A N D E Q U I P T H E M S E LV E S W I T H R E S O U R C E S A N D E M P L O Y O R G A N I Z AT I O N A L A N D C R I T I C A L T H I N K I N G S K I L L S T O A D D R E S S PAT R O N S A N D T H E C O M M U N I T Y N E E D S . D E M O N S T R AT I O N A N D E X H I B I T I O N O F I N F O R M AT I O N , M AT E R I A L A N D R E S O U R C E S M U S T B E S H A R E D F R E E LY A S T R U E N E E D S A R E O F T E N M A S K E D B Y T H E L A C K O F K N O W L E D G E . A F T E R A L L , K N O W L E D G E W I T H N O A C T I O N I S W O RT H L E S S .

Reflections of a volunteer:

Intuitiveness is overrated. Even the best planner often falls short of a desired goal or task. That is what makes a team so valuable. Collectively, a team is a force to be reckoned with. The various hats that we wear allow us to service the needs of others and give the gift of literacy and infinite knowledge.

Next time you go in a library, guess what color hat the librarian and the volunteers are wearing.

The End