Abstract:

This study was conducted to determine whether there is a different between components of socio-demographic such as age, gender, work experience and position levels and Emotional Intelligence (EI) of professional librarians in public libraries. A survey, using a questionnaire, was used on 200 public librarians throughout Malaysia. The questionnaire on EI that focuses on four main domains, namely, self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management, was designed based on the works of Goleman and other researchers. Data were analyzed statistically where inferential statistical t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to describe and test the hypotheses of the study. The t-test and ANOVA analysis showed no significant difference between EI and gender, age and position levels while work experience suggests otherwise. Theoretically, the study was developed an empirically based framework and practically, developed strategies, the diversity of EI of librarians regardless of age, gender and position levels. Notably, the top management should consider the diversity of EI of librarians regardless of age, gender and position level. If librarians have EI competency, they can control stress better, ultimately it can help improve the services of public libraries involved in supporting national development strategies, including positioning Malaysia as a World-Class Data Centre Hub.