First Bank Branches Out With “Book Nook” In Bradenton

With a surplus of books left over from the recently concluded Literacy Council of Manatee County Fall Annual Book Sale, First Bank has opened a new library store inside the Village Green office (7051 Manatee Ave. West) in Bradenton, Florida.

“Our new First Bank ‘Book Nook’ has been well received by customers and the community as a whole,” said Sherry Harris, First Bank Branch Manager. “Like a regular library, it is a warm, comfortable and inviting place to relax and peruse a variety of interesting books.”

Unlike a regular library, patrons cannot check books out on loan. However, they are welcome to buy books with all proceeds going to Manatee Reads, formerly known as the Literacy Council of Manatee. Donations of gently used books are always welcome to stock the shelves.

While not a true lending library, the First Bank Book Nook has the look and feel of one. Set up in a spacious room adjacent to the lobby, the area features comfortable chairs, tables and nearly 500 books. It’s even categorized like a regular library with fiction, nonfiction, adult and children’s areas.

“We aren’t exactly using the Dewey Decimal System but all the books are easy to find,” Harris said. “We encourage the community to have a look at our books while doing their banking with us.”

The First Bank Village Green office is a natural fit for the library. For the past several years, the branch has hosted Manatee Reads Fall Annual Book Sale with First Bank offices from Bradenton, Palmetto and Longboat Key serving as book drop-off sites in the months leading up to the event.

First Bank firstbanks.com is one of the largest privately owned banks in the country with $6.23 billion in assets and 130 locations in Missouri, Florida, Illinois, and California.