Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Librarianship requires personnel who most times should be confident, competent, social and good team players. These good interpersonal behaviors are paramount for effective and productive library services. This study was undertaken to assess the relationship between self-esteem and emotional intelligence among librarians in Nigerian universities. 140 librarians consented to and participated in the study. Roosenberg Self-Esteem scale and Schutte Emotional Intelligence Test were used to assess self-esteem and emotional intelligence respectively. Results showed significant and positive correlation between self-esteem and global emotional intelligence (r = 0.237, p = 0.001), perception of emotion (r= 0.220, p = 0.001), management of own emotion (r = 0.272, p = 0.001), management of others’ emotion (r = 0.172, p = 0.05), and age (r = 0.177, p = 0.05). The librarians also had high levels of self-esteem (21.31±0.375), global emotional intelligence (124.63±1.156), perception of emotion (33.34±0.450), management of own emotion (34.50±0.358), management of others’ emotion (30.21±0.398) and utilization of emotion (24.20±0.259). No gender differences were noted in the variables. In conclusion, respondents exhibited high level of self-esteem and were emotionally intelligent. Self-esteem correlated positively and strongly with emotional intelligence. One of the recommendations is that university libraries should include self-esteem and emotional intelligence tests as part of their criteria for job selection.