Purpose This research aimed at assessing the effect of knowledge management (KM) development and emotional intelligence (EI) on the productivity of librarians regarding the mediating role of job motivation (JM) and job feedback (JF). Design/methodology/approach The study was carried out in two phases. First, the variables affecting the productivity of librarians were identified and selected through an explorative study and surveying their opinions. Then, the theoretically designed model was administered to 312 librarians at Iranian public libraries. A questionnaire was used to collect data, and the Structural Equation Modeling technique was employed to analyze data. Findings The results showed that KM and EI, mediated by JM and JF, had a positive and significant effect on developing the librarians’ productivity. The results also revealed that JF had a positive effect on JM and that JF was more effective on productivity than JM. The study marginally proved the direct effect of KM and EI on productivity where KM was more effective than EI on productivity. Knowing the effects of organizational and individual factors on the higher productivity of librarians in public libraries will help library managers make more efficient use of those factors in developing the capabilities of librarians and enhancing productivity. Originality/value This study is one of the few studies of its kind that facilitates the perception of the concept of productivity in public libraries and also the assessment of the effects of organizational and individual factors on the librarians’ productivity.

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