Structure, photo-, electroluminescence and electron transport properties of planar nanoscale light-emitting metal-organic device consisting of Au nano-islands and Tb(thd)(3) is reported. FTIR and photoluminescence measurements confirm stable vacuum deposition behavior of Tb(thd)(3) in a monomeric form. With STM imaging, a thickness-dependent structure of Tb(thd)(3) layers was observed and local current-voltage characteristics of organic films were found to be non-linear at voltages exceeding 1.0 V. Electroluminescence from the nanocomposite was observed at voltages 15-30 V, showing the emission features both of Tb(thd)(3) and Au nano-islands. The results can be useful for design of planar light-emitting devices with controllable spectral characteristics.