Our Team
We’re excited to help you any time!
Mandy Cook
Director
Reading is very important to Mandy, but connecting with kids is just as much or more important. Mandy loves to be silly with kids–especially aged third grade and up, so it is great that she works with older kids. She’ll leave it to Ms. Lesa to deal with the sticky fingers and multiple hugs. 🙂Â
When Mandy was young, she sometimes got in trouble for reading TOO much. Who needed to do their chores when a new book was waiting?! She still feels this way, but luckily, she no longer gets in trouble for that.Â
Mandy has worked at the library since 2013 and has been director since 2022. When she started at the library, she knew she was home.
Mandy is a Marysville native and lives with her husband, Brian, and keeps track of her kids, Ian, Ariona, and Nathaniel.Â
She continues to be active in her community. Come check out the rainbows in Mandy’s office!
Email Mandy at director@marysvillepubliclibrary.or
DĂ© Oehm
Assistant Director
Dé is originally from Brazil and has been living in Oketo since 2016. She was an exchange student back in 2001, and that’s how she met her husband, and ended up moving to the United States. They have twin daughters who definitely keep life busy.
 Dé’s been working at the library since 2017, and she can’t imagine doing anything else. Her job includes cataloging new materials, repairing the ones that need some TLC, and sending overdue notices to patrons who may have forgotten to return items on time. Dé enjoys reading about different places, people and cultures, and loves spending time with her family.
E-mail DĂ© at assistantdirector@marysvillepubliclibrary.org.
Lesa Dierking
Storytime guru
Lesa’s passions of working with children and literacy make her job at the library “the perfect job.” “I’ve always said, I have the BEST job in town!!!” During the school year, she leads a children’s storytime on Tuesday morning and a family storytime on Thursday evening. In August 2023, a Tiny Tots LapSit Storytime for babies, birth to 18 months or so, and their caregivers, was begun. Summer reading program planning begins as soon as the previous one is completed, and ends after a hectic six (or more) weeks’ of events in June and July. Â
Born and raised in Alma, Kansas, Lesa earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Emporia State University. After only teaching a few years, she married Bruce, her husband, and moved to Marysville. Soon after, she began working in 2002 at the library, took a few years off when their daughter, Allison, was born, and returned in 2011.
Bruce and Lesa are very active in our community and church. Allison is graduated from Marysville High School and is currently attending Mom’s Alma Mater, majoring in Art Education and is a “Marching Hornet” in the band. As a family, they have enjoyed traveling. Lesa has visited almost all 50 states (Hawaii and a couple of East Coast states to go); Alaska and Maine have been favorites, along with international travel to Germany, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and most recently Cuba. Now with an empty nest, Bruce and Lesa hope to be able to travel again, including internationally. Lesa enjoys crocheting, sewing, and painting in her spare time — really pretty much any type of crafty activity.
Email Lesa at lesadierking@bluevalley.net.
April Kruse
Interlibrary Loan
When April was growing up she and her sister spent countless hours roaming their small town library and carefully selecting books that would take them on new adventures into magical kingdoms, hunting for clues with the most clever detectives, and learning everything they could about the world around them. The library was a home away from home and an incredibly magical place that stuck with her throughout her childhood years and into adulthood. She keeps those memories alive by making sure her two young daughters, Emalie and Marley, are just as crazy about reading as she and her siblings were.Â
April has lived in many places, but relocated to Hanover with her husband Lance in 2014. She worked as a daycare provider and stay-at-home mom for several years. Spending countless hours with kids helped to remind April that life can be fun and remarkable every day if you want it to be! If it’s crafty, fun, or different she is all about it! Â
Working in a library has long been a dream of April’s and she is ecstatic about the opportunity to work in a world surrounded by books and to help foster that same extraordinary “home away from home” feeling for new generations of children.
Email April at ill@marysvillepubliclibrary.org.
Joy Kramer
Library Aide
Joy is a true people person. After 15 years of working full time alongside her husband, Chad, in their family business, she made the leap in spring 2024 to become a stay-at-home mom. A few months in, however, she realized she missed daily interactions outside the home. When the library aide position opened, she took a chance—and she’s so glad she did!
At the library, Joy brings energy and creativity to everything she touches. She designs bulletin boards and book displays, creates the monthly newsletter, and curates the popular Spice Adventure series. While she insists she’s “not the most creative person,” her growing skills and imaginative ideas prove otherwise—staff and patrons alike look forward to seeing what she’ll dream up next.
Outside the library, Joy’s life is full and lively. She’s often found running from one activity to the next with her five kids—Shea, Cam, Max, Kane, and Blaise—lifeguarding at the pool, officiating volleyball matches, or riding her bike down a quiet country road.
Email Joy at joykramer@bluevalley.net.
Dylan Bush
Library Clerk
Dylan was born in Belleville, KS. They moved from Marysville to Springhill, KS, and then back again in 2021.
Their interests include reading, video gaming, and creating art. Working at a library has been a dream for many years; Dylan especially appreciates being a part of the community being built at the Marysville Public Library.