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Introduction: This paper explores the relationship between musicians' information seeking behaviour and their personality traits within the context of musical creativity. Although previous research has addressed different socio-technological and behavioral aspects of music information seeking, the role of personality characteristics around creative activities has been an under-researched area. Method: Research was conducted by means of a questionnaire survey administered to Greek musicians. Survey questions were developed based on theory from the domains of information behaviour and musical creativity. Different personality characteristics were measured using the Core Self-Evaluations Scale based on self-efficacy, self-esteem, locus of control and neuroticism. Analysis: The survey provides empirical evidence of the associations between personality traits, music information seeking and musical creativity based on descriptive and inferential nonparametric statistical analysis for group differences. Results: The results indicate that information plays a significant role in different creative activities of musicians. Musicians utilised a variety of information sources but encountered important obstacles in information seeking. Significant connection was also found between musicians' personality characteristics and different types of information seeking aspects and creativity. Conclusions: Overall, musicians' personality, and in particular self-efficacy, is associated with scholarly information seeking and analysis.

Introduction: This study investigated the information seeking behaviour and needs of parents of paediatric patients and their motives for seeking Internet-based information. Method: A questionnaire survey of 121 parents was conducted in a paediatric clinic of a Greek university hospital. Analysis: The data were analysed using SPSS; descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data and non-parametric Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis test statistics were performed to identify differences in reported information seeking behaviour. Results: Parents sought further information than that provided by their paediatrician and searched on the Internet to reduce their anxiety and cope better with their children's medical condition. The Internet was the second most important information source used after the paediatrician. The main obstacles parents encountered were the volume and unreliability of Internet health information and the infrequency of visits to the doctor. Conclusions: Informed participation of patients and paediatricians in clinical shared decision-making requires the development of information literacy in both parties. Health information professionals may act as information literacy instigators and educators for parents and paediatricians by means of offering information literacy prescriptions and other information decision aids.

The purpose of this article is to capture pregnancy-related information seeking behavior of women and its correlation with socio-economic status and with Internet health information literacy profiles. A user survey based on Wilson's' macromodel of information seeking behavior was designed and carried out. The survey included 289 women at reproductive age who provided valid feedback on information needs, motives for seeking pregnancy-related information online, information resources employed and Internet information literacy. Responses were collected via an anonymous questionnaire and processed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 25.0. The results demonstrate that women have increased information needs during pregnancy, that they are primarily concerned about the health of their embryos and that they tend to turn mainly to their doctors, their family and to the Web for obtaining pregnancy-related information. Internet is most used by younger women and online information is generally deemed useful. The analysis of survey responses indicated that pregnancy-related information literacy profiles are influenced by women's educational status and age. Official online information sources should be made available in Greece, where women could find useful and trusted information about pregnancy issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To report on ehealth literacy levels in nurses and to explore its associations with the nursing practice environment. Background: Nurses increasingly use the Internet and associated technologies to seek health‐relevant information and manage their health. Introduction: High ehealth literacy is a predictor of better health outcomes in diverse populations but its levels and work‐related determinants have not been adequately explored in direct‐care nurses. Methods: The sample for this cross‐sectional study consisted of 200 staff nurses and nursing assistants in Greece. Participants reported during February–March 2019 their sociodemographic and work‐related characteristics on a self‐administered questionnaire which included the "electronic Health Literacy Scale"—eHEALS, and the "Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index"—PES‐NWI. Crude and adjusted logistic regressions were performed. Findings: In adjusted models, participants that scored higher on the "Collegial nurse–physician relationships" and "Nurse participation in hospital affairs" dimensions of the clinical environment had higher odds of reporting better ehealth literacy. The lowest item score in eHEALS was related to not being able to make health decisions using Internet information. Discussion: Nurses' ehealth literacy was positively associated with some dimensions of the hospital practice environment. Nurses reported higher ehealth literacy scores in comparison to other studies; however, they were not confident in distinguishing reliable health information from Internet sources. This is quite alarming because it can directly impair the ability of nurses to provide relevant and up‐to‐date evidence‐based care. Conclusion: This is the first study to report internationally on the positive associations of a good working environment with nurses' ehealth literacy levels. Implications for Nursing and Nursing Policy: Nursing policy should address the ehealth literary of nurses and integrate it into continuing professional education initiatives. Special focus should be put on nurses' ambiguity in distinguishing which ehealth information is reliable and can guide nursing practice. This should be combined with efforts to improve the nursing clinical environment and increase nurses' participation in hospital decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The printed book in a hybrid environment is still a privileged medium. During recent decades, significant changes have taken place in the publishing industry worldwide. This paper looks into the structural organization of large publishing houses to offer a detailed examination of the editorial department and the role of the editor. Relevant literature is reviewed and empirical evidence is presented. Empirical research examined the organization of publishing companies and existing departments, focusing on the responsibilities of the editor and the editorial department. The survey took place in May to June 2010 and included all large publishing houses in Greece, i.e. those which publish over 80 titles annually. The survey found that the organization of these publishing companies is influenced most significantly by the their family-owned and -managed structure as well as by advances in information technology. Novel organizational entities for electronic production, promotion, distribution, and advertisement are making their presence felt. The editorial department remains important in this framework, and the editors are, among other things, responsible for book selection and list-building. However, the role of the editor in Greece, although significant, is often not clearly defined, and may even be underestimated, owing to the structure of the industry, the family-managed publishing companies, and the central role of the publisher. The Greek book-publishing industry remains small, limited by the number of Greek-speakers, and the results presented may be representative of small industries that furthermore face economic recession. This is one of very few studies providing theoretical and survey results for the organizational structure of publishing houses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Libraries in Greece are mostly financed by public sources, with private funding covering only a very small proportion of their budget. The deteriorating, slowly growing economic environment in Greece places additional pressure on the already understaffed and underfinanced public libraries. This paper aims at demonstrating that the tough economic conditions may provide a setting for innovation and quality enhancement which may lead in turn to a corresponding growth in the library sector. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative analysis is conducted in order to identify the potential of a novel management response model as a pathway for library survival within the fierce economic crisis. Findings – Specific suggestions are made for the management of public libraries, future policies and trends in the lines of learning/education/training services; social/economic development services; electronic government and citizen participation in public affairs services; cultural identity and social cohesion services; and social inclusion services. Practical/implications – It is ascertained that public libraries in Greece may have an opportunity for change and innovation as a result of the current economic situation. Furthermore, it is believed that active involvement, quality, innovation and self-finance can serve as important tools for the development of public libraries and their positive contribution and productive role into the Greek socioeconomic environment. Originality/value – This is the only available work providing an overall management approach for public libraries within a current economic crisis such as the one in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to present a methodological framework for the identification of a hierarchy among the three categories of intellectual capital, i.e. human, organizational/structural and relational capital, with respect to their contribution to the objective of improving a library's performance. It also seeks to provide a case study of Greek central public libraries. Design/methodology/approach – The framework is based on an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) application including utilization of a Delphi method and ISO 11620 international standards. Finally, empirical evidence is produced for the Greek central public libraries. Findings – The proposed framework may be employed for prioritizing intangible assets in libraries. For the Greek central public libraries it has been indicated that human capital contributes more than the organizational/structural capital and this in turn more than the relational capital. Research limitations/implications – Although the proposed methodological framework is intended to be widely applicable, the case study results cannot be directly generalized due to the uniqueness of the Greek public libraries environment. Practical implications – A hierarchy may be an invaluable tool for the library's management in order to better utilize the intangible resources and effectively allocate investments to human, organizational and relation capital assets in order to improve the library's performance Originality/value – The paper shows that the framework for building a hierarchy of intellectual capital in libraries is based on a rather challenging research approach for prioritizing intangible assets with respect to predefined management objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is twofold: to provide an overview of the present situation at the Greek central public libraries and to identify strategic development areas in regard to education and training, social and economic development, e-government, reading policy, cultural cohesion and identity. Design/methodology/approach – A survey was conducted in January and February 2008 through extensive semi-structured interviews with all the 29 Greek central public libraries. Findings – The paper finds that a formal strategic plan is becoming necessary for the Greek central public libraries in order to understand themselves, redefine their policies and priorities, and further consider the needs and expectations of their users and of the society as a whole. Practical implications – This paper contributes to the discussion on the development of strategic planning aimed at the central public libraries in Greece and may assist in providing evidence for strategic planning in a national and/or in an institutional level. Originality/value – It is one of the very few studies in Greece providing empirical evidence for the strategic planning and management of the central public libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Books are unique products. The publishing industry is deeply influenced by the changes resulting from globalization, the ever-increasing competition and the rapid introduction of novel information technologies. These changes alter the book production, sales and pricing, advertisement, marketing, promotion and distribution processes. The paper focuses on marketing issues concerning the Greek book publishing industry. After providing an overview of the main features of the Greek publishing industry, which is representative of the small European book markets, the paper investigates marketing techniques and methods employed by the publishing companies in regard to the printed book in Greece. For that purpose a survey based on a structured questionnaire, which had been distributed to all the large and medium-sized Greek publishing companies, was carried out between May and July of 2007. The results of this research may contribute to the study of marketing issues of the Greek book publishing industry, and indeed may enlighten patterns of book policy by the publishing companies in Greece and other similar book markets. Furthermore, they may provide some issues of the Greek book market, and more particularly on the role of novel technologies, of open access, of mass media and of bookshops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Changing times call for a reading policy which should be high on the list of priorities of academic libraries. This paper aims to probe the reading behavioural patterns and perception of the students of the Ionian University. Design/methodology/approach – An empirical study was conducted from April to June 2007, through the development of a structured questionnaire equally distributed to a stratified sample of 335 undergraduate students from all the departments of the Ionian University. Findings – The undergraduate students of the Ionian University show reading behaviours that are different from the general population. Academic libraries can form specific policies regarding the reading habits and behaviour of the undergraduate students in terms of compulsory reading and leisure reading. Practical implications – Effective and creative planning of reading policy in academic libraries should be based on students' reading behavioural patterns. Originality/value – Results for the reading patterns for students of academic institutions in Greece have not been available in the past. Availability of such results documented in this paper may provide a starting-point for the development of academic libraries' reading policy concerning the reading behaviour of students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]