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The Livermore Public Library has recognized four individuals this year for their outstanding service as volunteers.
“By sharing their time and talent, (volunteers) become essential partners in the critical public services the library provides — from helping adults achieve their literacy and technology goals, to assisting children with homework after school, to running conversation classes for English-language learners,” Livermore Mayor John Marchand told Livermore Vine.
Named as the 2025 Volunteer of the Year, Aaron Stoien of Livermore was recognized for helping launch the library’s Basic Tech Help service in January as well as his ongoing volunteer work to provide the free service.
As a data engineer by day, Stoien said he can help solve technical problems on any device brought by adults for the drop-in program.
Visitors can receive help with activities such as uploading and downloading files, creating email accounts, using Microsoft Office and Google suites and web searching, according to a statement by library officials announcing the 2025 Volunteers of the Year.
“Library staff are great at identifying needs and developing library services to meet those needs, but oftentimes it requires experts to come in and deliver the services,” Emily Lowell, library manager of adult services, told Livermore Vine.
Stoien “answered the call” for help, Lowell added, consistently giving four hours every week to provide tech support.
In addition to helping launch the service and donating his time, Stoien has also trained a volunteer for the program, he told Livermore Vine.
Stoien said he was honored by the library’s recognition.
“My day job earns me a living, but volunteering is really what makes me feel alive,” Stoien said.
There exists a digital divide in society wherein some people have a lot of experience with tech while others have very limited experience, Stoien said. Given the divide, he finds it especially fulfilling to help individuals learn about tech and its usefulness.
“He cares deeply about donating this service, and it is evident in the relationships he has formed with regular patrons who look forward to working with him every week,” Lowell said. “His service embodies what libraries stand for, which is free access to knowledge.”
In other awards, Livermore Public Library officials named Brooklyn Fowler as the 2025 Young Adult Volunteer of the Year.
Fowler has served as a young adult volunteer and shelf steward for the past four years, primarily at the Springtown Branch Library. She has helped staff by completing tasks such as setting up programs, hosting craft and maintaining shelf organization, according to the statement.
Fowler is reliable, patient, kind, efficient and known for her “can-do attitude”, officials said.
Earning the honor of the 2025 Volunteer of the Year in Support of Literacy is Gary Graff.
Graff began volunteering for the library in 2014 and has tutored individuals through the library’s adult literacy program. He is also known as a program ambassador, participating in its activities and encouraging others’ involvement, officials said.
Callie Rainsford is the 2025 Volunteer of the Year for the Friends of the Livermore Library, a nonprofit organization that supports the library.
Since becoming a volunteer for the Friends of Livermore Library, Rainsford has revitalized the group’s website through its redesign and interface improvements, according to the statement. She also updates the organization’s website with information about board meetings, creates its newsletters, expands the group’s social media presence and maintains the social media accounts.
“Livermore Public Library is grateful for the generous help provided by these and all Library volunteers,” officials said in the statement.
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