Librarian to Run 18 Miles to Raise Money for Diversity Scholarship

A librarian and athlete from New York is running to raise money for aspiring librarians.

Miriam Tuliao, senior library marketing manager at Penguin Random House and an adjunct library science instructor at Queens College, City University of New York and Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, will run 18 miles on Global Running Day (June 4) to raise funds for the American Library Association’s (ALA) Spectrum Scholarship Program, which recruits and provides scholarships to American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern and North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students to assist them with obtaining a graduate degree and leadership positions within the profession.

This is Tuliao’s 18th consecutive year as an athletic fundraiser for the ALA Spectrum Scholarship Program. Last year, she participated in the 37th Annual Great Saunter, a 32-mile walk around Manhattan; in 2021, she swam Grimaldo’s Mile, a one-mile open water event in New York City; in 2017, she took to the waters at New York’s Rockaway Beach to raise funds (and was profiled in American Libraries for her efforts); and in 2012, she ran 125 miles during the month of June for Spectrum!

Tuliao completed the New Jersey State Triathlon in 2008 and the 5.85-mile Little Red Lighthouse swim in 2009, both times raising funds for the Spectrum Scholarship. She also raised funds for Spectrum by swimming a 1.2-K race around the Statue of Liberty in 2012.

Before joining the publishing world, Tuliano worked as a librarian, serving as assistant director of selection at BookOps, the shared technical services organization of New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library. Each year, she pays tribute to librarians who have made an impact on her and on their communities. This year’s run honors Janet Clarke, Stony Brook University; Gerardo (Gary) Colmenar, University of California Santa Barbara; Dora Ho, Los Angeles Public Library; Kenichi Tsuda, BookOps; and Sandy Wee, San Mateo County Libraries.

In 2017, Tuliano told American Libraries: “Librarians of color are in many ways ambassadors in their communities. They are our links to language, culture, to the collections and service, and they can extend their role to [the] families of users in their community, broadening the reach of service.”

She cited a Filipino saying—utang na loob—which means “a debt of the soul.” It’s why she says she feels a strong debt to colleagues and is inspired to help “provide new librarians an opportunity to fly.”

You can help support Tuliao’s June run at ec.ala.org/donate, selecting Spectrum, and making your gift in tribute to Miriam Tuliao. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

You can read more about Tuliano’s career and fundraising in this profile on the Asian Pacific American Library Association’s website.