Randolf Mariano

• Mariano, Randolf (2023). Understanding US library diplomacy practices in the 21st century. IFLA Journal. ISSN 0340-0352. doi: 10.1177/03400352231210543. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This exploratory case study delves into the views and perspectives of 17 US library experts involved in 21st-century library diplomacy practices. Using the template analysis, four main themes of library diplomacy are identified: (1) the actors showed implicit and explicit roles in diplomatic involvement; (2) the main objective of library diplomacy was to facilitate knowledge dialogue; (3) the strategies aimed to foster cultural humility; and (4) the actors viewed digitalization as a significant instrument in international library work. This research offers significant insights into the less explored topic of library diplomacy, particularly when 21st-century libraries are challenged concerning global issues relating to freedom of information; the values of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility; and sustainability efforts. Library diplomacy is more critical than ever to be at the forefront of establishing dialogue around the world. The study encourages further investigation of library diplomacy practices in a variety of geographical and international contexts.

• Mariano, Randolf (2022). Why Libraries Matter in the New Diplomacy Era? Informaatiotutkimus. ISSN 1239-3614. 41(2-3), p. 97–101. doi: 10.23978/inf.122593. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Libraries, museums, and cultural centers have long been widely advocated for diplomacy as an enabler for knowledge sharing, cultural exchange, and scientific cooperation, advancing people-to-people ties and mutual understanding in the international system (Mariano and Vårheim, 2021). In spite of the contribution of libraries as a public sphere institution (Vårheim, Skare, and Lenstra, 2019), a memory institution for historical accounts and artifacts and cultural heritage (Luke and Kersel, 2013; Rubin, 2016), and social meeting place to promote multicultural societies (Aabø, Audunson, and Vårheim, 2010), libraries are still facing 21st - century uncertainties and challenges such as but not limited to the information and cultural crisis in the new cold war period, and the rampant spread of information disorder and infodemic crisis (Jankowicz, 2020; Stengel, 2019). Libraries and diplomacy are more crucial than ever to advance global solutions that no single country and group of nations and organizations can solve.

• Mariano, Randolf (2022). Mapping and searching for a theory and concept of library diplomacy. Information Research: An international electronic journal. 27, p. 1–9. doi: 10.47989/colis2208. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Introduction. This theoretical paper presents an exploration of how the concept and theory of library diplomacy is portrayed and presented in the library and information science (LIS) and international relations (IR) context. The paper also aims to address research gaps and position library diplomacy in today's 21st-century international environment. Method. To illustrate how library diplomacy is theorized and conceptualized, a literature review analysis is used to search for theories, concepts, and frameworks to look at the state of knowledge about the term “library diplomacy” and this paper also described the literature using a conceptual framework on the dimensions of library diplomacy. Analysis.Through reviewing several diverse scholarships on library diplomacy in the LIS and IR context, a selection of theories, concepts, and frameworks were identified. The analysis provided guidance to the trajectory of literature related to the concept and theory of library diplomacy. Results.Library diplomacy is characterized with a few LIS and IR theories including, realism, liberalism, soft power, constructivism, and the international librarianship as a practice theory. A conceptual framework of library diplomacy dimensions including (1) Libraries in diplomacy; (2) Diplomacy for libraries; and (3) Libraries for diplomacy, is identified to better understand the practices, policies and processes linked to library diplomacy. Conclusions. There are many fragmented scholarships related to library diplomacy but only few attempted to explore the concept and theory. A grounded and empirical study is needed for better understanding of library diplomacy´s related theories and concepts presented in this study.

• Mariano, Randolf & Vårheim, Andreas (2021). Libraries, museums and cultural centers in foreign policy and cultural diplomacy:a scoping review. Journal of Documentation. ISSN 0022-0418. doi: 10.1108/JD-05-2021-0103. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Purpose – Libraries, museums and cultural centers have long served as cultural ambassadors and foreign policy instruments, bridging diplomatic relationships among nation-states and institutions. The purpose of this scoping review is to ascertain and understand the emerging areas of research on libraries, museums and cultural centers in foreign policy and cultural diplomacy within broader research paradigms of international relations, social sciences, education and library and information studies by systematically mapping key concepts and identifying the types of studies and knowledge gaps. Design/methodology/approach – Using the Joanna Briggs Institute’s (JBI) Manual for Evidence Synthesis, relevant peer-reviewed journal articles, books and book chapters that were published over a wide time period in any language from various databases were systematically examined. Two reviewers worked independently to extract the data and reached a consensus regarding the inclusion criteria using the JBI’s data charting template. Findings – In total, 6,436 citations were screened, and 57 documents were identified as eligible for inclusion. The following sequences were reviewed and explored: study characteristics, theoretical approaches and research themes. The research themes were grouped into broader ones that included goals, actors, strategies and instruments. Finally, the concentration and clusters of ideas and gaps that emerged in the identified studies were investigated, resulting in a discussion of the recommendations and directions for future research. Originality/value – This first scoping review is a useful tool for investigating the changing and novel roles of libraries, museums and cultural centers in cultural diplomacy and foreign policy. Although substantial work exists on the topic, the potential remains for interdisciplinary research to challenge and extend the current knowledge about cultural diplomacy practices in libraries, museums and cultural centers. Keywords Libraries, Museums, Cultural centers, Cultural diplomacy, Foreign policy, Cultural relations, Scoping review

• Mariano, Randolf (2013). The Nexus between Hallyu and Library Usage in the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines. Trends in Overseas Korean Studies Libraries. ISSN 2092-6073. p. 123–156. Full text in Research Archive

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• Bøyum, Idunn; Johnston, Jamie & Mariano, Randolf (2025). Digital Citizenship (nettkurs). doi: https:/niagaragrant.com/educational-materials/#digital-citizenship. Full text in Research Archive
• Mariano, Randolf; Alenzuela, Reysa & Yap, Joseph Marmol (2025). The current landscape of the Open Science Initiative in the ASEAN region. Septentrio Conference Series. doi: 10.7557/5.8192. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science (2021) has served as a global guiding framework, encouraging regional organizations, countries, and institutions to make scientific knowledge openly available, reusable, inclusive, and transparent by promoting collaborative scientific practices for the benefit of science and society. Regional blocs, such as the European Union (EU), whose member states are connected by shared regional economic integration and interests, have proactively engaged in influencing knowledge ecosystems, advancing policies on open science, and sustaining collaborative dialogues within Europe’s research and scientific communities as exemplified in the EU open science policy (European Commission, 2016) and Plan S initiative (European Science Foundation, 2018). The African Union (AU) is also increasing momentum in supporting policies on collaborative open knowledge sharing through the endorsement of free trade agreements within the African continent and its policy commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (Okafor et al., 2022). Several single-country and institutional efforts from Southeast Asia have demonstrated strong support for open-access publishing (Abidin et al., 2024; Awasthi et al., 2025; Irawan et al., 2022) and the development of open repositories (Lee-Hwa et al., 2013; Mostafa et al., 2024). However, such policy coherence, as seen in the EU and AU efforts to advance collaborative and regional-driven policy initiatives, remains underexplored in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). There is also a limited understanding of how ASEAN, as a regional bloc, supports open science in policy and practice. Thus, this presentation explores the current landscape of open science initiatives in the ASEAN region by addressing two questions: (1) How are ASEAN member states reflecting on the framework outlined in the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science? and (2) What are the current regional developments, including benefits, opportunities, and challenges, in shaping ASEAN open science policy? Using an exploratory review method, this study draws on peer-reviewed literature from Web of Science and Scopus, as well as grey literature from publicly available government portals and websites to identify emerging themes and patterns. This presentation aims to map the current landscape of ASEAN open science initiatives, highlighting the benefits, opportunities, and challenges, and revealing patterns of engagement and collaboration across ASEAN member states and their connection with other global actors in open science. The overall findings contribute to informing policy development and strengthening the ASEAN open science movement.

• Nylund, Inger Beate & Mariano, Randolf (2025). Shut up and write som "spaces of wellbeing" i et campusbibliotek. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Universitetsbiblioteket i Innlandet har hatt Shut up and write som et pilotprosjekt for stipendiater på campus Lillehammer høsten 2024. Motivasjonen vår var å tilrettelegge for skriving i et sosialt miljø i biblioteklokalene. Presentasjonen vil belyse våre erfaringer med vekt på to temaer: bruk av biblioteklokaler på en ny måte, og skape en sosial møteplass og et fellesskap for stipendiater. Vi bruker begrepet "spaces of wellbeing" (Beasy et al., 2020) for å forklare hvordan vi planla og gjennomførte Shut up and write. Shut up and write oppsto i San Francisco i 2007 av en gruppe skjønnlitterære forfattere som ønsket å samles på café for å øke sin skriveproduksjon. Denne skrivebevegelsen er et lavterskeltilbud uten kritikk eller oppgaver, som senere har spredt seg til akademiske miljøer. (Mewburn et al., 2014) Shut up and write skulle være preget av uformell læring blant deltakerne, i motsetning til mer formelle skrivetiltak. Mer forskning er nødvendig for å undersøke hvordan Shut up and write kan støtte "spaces of wellbeing" og uformell læring i framtidens universitets- og høgskolebibliotek. Litteratur Beasy, K., Emery, S., Dyer, L., Coleman, B., Bywaters, D., Garrad, T., Crawford, J., Swarts, K., & Jahangiri, S. (2020). Writing together to foster wellbeing: Doctoral writing groups as spaces of wellbeing. Higher Education Research & Development, 39(6), 1091–1105. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2020.1713732 Mewburn, I., Osborne, L., & Caldwell, G. (2014). Shut up and write! Some surprising uses of cafes and crowds in doctoral writing. I C. Guerin & C. Aitchison (Red.), Writing groups for doctoral education and beyond: Innovations in theory and practice (s. 399–425). Routledge. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/57688/

• Mariano, Randolf Dionisio (2024). ALA IRRT Sister Libraries International Librarians Networking Event. Full text in Research Archive
• Mariano, Randolf & Bell, Emilia (2024). Library and Knowledge Diplomacy Forum. Full text in Research Archive
• Mariano, Randolf Dionisio (2023). Harnessing Libraries and Culture to Strengthen Local, Regional and International Relations, QNL Libraries Lead Forum. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAMs) across the world leverage soft power to promote diplomacy locally and between nations. Although cultural ambassadorship in memory institutions is under-represented in research, its significance is evident in collections, programming, exhibitions, and collaborations that represent national interests and international relations.

• Mariano, Randolf Dionisio (2023). Library Diplomacy: What the World Needs Now - Gigabit Libraries Network and IFLA. Full text in Research Archive
• Mariano, Randolf Dionisio (2023). Environmental Collaborations and Sustainable Development in Libraries and Museums. Full text in Research Archive
• Mariano, Randolf & Johnston, Jamie (2023). Let’s discuss, co-create, and advance sustainable development in the LIS curriculum: a design thinking workshop. Full text in Research Archive
• Mariano, Randolf (2022). Erasmus+ Mobility for Library and Information Science at Åbo Akademi University. Full text in Research Archive
• Mariano, Randolf (2022). Visiting Research Scholar Program at Penn State University Libraries. Full text in Research Archive
• Mariano, Randolf (2022). Mapping and searching for a theory and concept of library diplomacy. Full text in Research Archive
• Vårheim, Andreas & Mariano, Randolf (2021). Vulnerable communities, community resilience and social capital: challenges and opportunities for ASEAN public libraries. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Wherever there are people, there are communities—wherever there are communities there are public libraries (in most cases). This simple observation tells us that libraries are deeply interconnected with communities, and community hubs ideally located for contributing to the resilience of communities. This presentation aims to describe the conceptual and theoretical frameworks, and findings revolving on community resilience and social capital relevant for public library development and in the ASEAN context. Lastly, this presentation will also provide suggestions and recommendations for ASEAN public librarians to fully maximize the concept of social capital and community resilience to be part of addressing various socio-cultural, educational, health and economic challenges in the ASEAN region.

• Mariano, Randolf (2021). Theorizing Library Diplomacy in the international relations and library and information studies context. Full text in Research Archive
• Mariano, Randolf & Vårheim, Andreas (2021). Mapping the research on libraries, museums, and cultural centers in foreign policy and cultural diplomacy: a scoping review. Full text in Research Archive
• Mariano, Randolf (2021). The Library Diplomacy Initiative: the role of foreign cultural centers in bridging culture and innovation. Full text in Research Archive
• Mariano, Randolf & Labangon, Donna Lyn (2018). Full STEAM Ahead: Empowering and Catalyzing Creative Thinking and Social Entrepreneurial Skills of the community through Library Makerspace. Full text in Research Archive
• Mariano, Randolf (2016). From BOOKs to MOOCs: The Integration of Open Educational Resources to Library Services in American Spaces in East Asia and the Pacific Region. Full text in Research Archive
• Mariano, Randolf (2014). Social Media Presence Theory and Implications for Interactive Collaboration Learning in Massive Open Online Course at the American Spaces - Thomas Jefferson Information Center. Full text in Research Archive
• Mariano, Randolf & Vårheim, Andreas (2025). The Changing Landscape of United States Library Diplomacy. UiT Norges arktiske universitet. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This dissertation explores the concept of library diplomacy within the United States, examining it through the broader fields of international relations (IR) and library and information science (LIS) to understand it in the 21st-century context. Utilizing a multi-method approach published across three peer-reviewed papers, this dissertation integrates the scoping review, theoretical review, and qualitative insights from expert interviews. The research identifies significant gaps in scholarly literature and theoretical insights regarding library diplomacy, particularly in contemporary contexts. Findings suggest that although libraries and diplomacy concepts have coexisted for centuries, primarily studied during the 20th-century Cold War, there is a need to bridge the current phenomena and how library diplomacy is conceptualized, shaped, and practiced in the 21st-century context by looking at the diverse actors, goals, instruments and strategies in the US. The study’s findings also enhance understanding by framing the previous literature and current practices into three conceptual dimensions, namely: (1) “Libraries for Diplomacy” investigates how libraries are leveraged as tools to foster relationships that advance both state and non-state interests. (2) “Libraries in Diplomacy” examines how libraries influence and shape international and foreign policy actions, (3) “Diplomacy for Libraries” focuses on developing programs and services that enhance international library cooperation. These dimensions illustrate the different approaches the diverse actors employ to engage internationally with countries, institutions, and individuals regarding libraries, librarianship, and library programs and services. The dissertation concludes with recommendations and discusses the implications for the study of library diplomacy, as well as its potential contribution to researchers, policymakers, and practitioners involved in international library practices within the LIS and IR fields of study.

• Mwantimwa, Kelefa; Opheim, Elin; Bøyum, Idunn; Cisek, Sabina; Chiinda, Namoonga & Deja, Marek [Show all 23 contributors for this article] (2024). Exploring digital competence among academic library staff, LIS-faculty members and students: a scoping review. NIAGARA. Full text in Research Archive
• Mariano, Randolf (2018). Let's make: it happen!: developing a makerspace program guide for community librarians, educators and the youth in the National library of the Philippines. School of Library and Information Studies, University of the Philippines. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In the United States and some other developed countries, the maker movement has influenced many educators, librarians, and the youth, changing the way community actors learn in various formal and informal learning environments. Few ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries and developing countries have joined the hype, set-up their own makerspaces in classrooms, museums, and libraries, and created makerspace programs for their communities. However, in the Philippines, the maker culture is still in its infancy stage and there is a dearth of knowledge about the maker movement in libraries and information centers. With this, the researcher endeavors to address existing gaps in maker culture, maker movement knowledge and awareness, by urging a more uniformed approach to dissemination of making learning in public libraries in the Philippines. This qualitative study conducted over a 17-month period aims to identify and examine the learning goals, beliefs, disposition, learning identities, and levels of making learning experiences of the actors of the community in order to create and develop a makerspace program guide suitable for public and community libraries in the Philippines, particularly in the National Library of the Philippines. This study incorporates multiple research instruments including profile questionnaire, modes of learning framework assessment test, focus group discussions, and program module activities with compiled evaluation survey. Collected data were described and evaluated to answer the learning goals, aspirations, beliefs, disposition, learning identities, and levels of making learning experiences of the public/community librarians, educators, and the youth, for the purpose of creating and developing a makerspace program guide. Through audience analysis, the study reveals that community actors involved have different learning goals, aspirations, beliefs, and disposition based on their age, gender, generation, socio-cultural, and ethno-linguistic background, which further reveals that regardless of the community actors' backgrounds, democratization of learning is possible in a makerspace program in order to help meet the needs of diverse and multi-learning communities. Furthermore, the focus group discussions resulted and attributed to various learning identities projected by the community actors. For librarians, making learning is explained as something tangible, and referred to the physical spaces, where people can create, innovate and work together. Teachers envision makerspaces as a resource hub for skill training and professional development, while students define making learning as something related to connectedness, participation, and collaboration among people. Various learning identities are voiced out which reflect the suitable behavior and content that should be incorporated in a makerspace program to meet the needs of community actors. Lastly, the levels of making learning experiences of the community actors further explains their learning engagement in a makerspace which in totality, enabled the researcher to produce and develop the program entitled ABCDEF Makerspace Program Guide Framework.

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