Librarians’ Emotional Intelligence and Conflict Management in Private University Libraries in South-West and South-South, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of librarians„ emotional intelligence on conflict management in private university libraries in South-West and South-South, Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research design. The population comprises 200 librarians in South-West and South-South, Nigeria. Total enumeration technique was used. A questionnaire was used for data collection. The instrument was tested for reliability, yielding Cronbach‟s alpha coefficients ranging from 0.87 to 0.95. Descriptive & inferential Statistics were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that intrapersonal, interpersonal, intragroup, and intergroup conflicts as predominant in libraries. Collaborating, accommodating, sharing, avoidance and competing were prevalent techniques for managing conflicts in libraries. Librarians were found to be highly emotionally intelligent. The study concluded that librarians‟ emotional intelligence influenced conflict management. The study recommended that there is a need for private University Libraries to tackle misunderstandings among librarians while at the same time ensuring librarians are constantly emotionally intelligent.