Victor Wembanyama Sparks ‘Read Like Wemby’ Library Campaign in San Antonio

The San Antonio Public Library (SAPL) launched the “Read Like Wemby” campaign on May 14, 2026, placing a curated display of Victor Wembanyama’s favorite books in the Central Library’s main lobby. The exhibit features titles such as Brandon Sanderson’s *Yumi and the Nightmare Painter*, R.A. Salvatore’s *The Witch of Whispervale*, and Robert Jordan’s *The Eye of the World*. The rollout coincided with the Spurs’ Western Conference finals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where the team entered the series tied 2-2.

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Gallup, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and a YouGov survey all show that Americans are reading fewer books than ever, with nearly 40 percent reporting no books read in the past year. Gallup and the Bureau of Labor Statistics report a continued decline in the number of books read per year. The *Washington Post* has labeled the trend a “post-literate era.”

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The exhibit showcases roughly 50 titles across print and digital formats. Since launch, nearly 160 copies have been checked out or placed on hold, with SenLinYu’s 1,040-page novel *Alchemised* receiving the most holds. Library staff Lila De Los Santos and Elvia Ramos installed an 8-foot cutout of Wembanyama’s wingspan at the Las Palmas branch, prompting children to take selfies. A second exhibit at the Las Palmas branch was added as part of the campaign, extending the library’s citywide push across its 29 locations. Board chair Juspreet Kaur proposed the campaign after seeing a local story on Wembanyama’s reading habit. Marketing manager Scott Williams and Central Library librarian Cate Prazak coordinated the displays. Former Spurs forward Harrison Barnes, who once shared a two-player book club with Wembanyama, helped select the science-fiction titles. Local patron Christy Hernandez said the exhibit renewed her interest in fantasy and led her to read Sanderson’s works.

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Scott Williams said the library views Wembanyama’s hobby as a catalyst for literacy promotion. Cate Prazak described a “spark” of community pride surrounding the Spurs’ playoff run. Juspreet Kaur emphasized the campaign’s aim to inspire reading among children and adults across SAPL’s 29 branches.

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• “The spark is so reinvigorated. You see it everywhere,” — Cate Prazak, Librarian

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• “You really brought a book?” — Denver Nuggets center (as quoted by SAPL staff)

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• “We just love the fact that there’s this NBA star, this international superstar right in our own backyard, who also happens to be a voracious reader.” — Scott Williams, Marketing Manager

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• “Seeing Wemby’s interest in reading has definitely renewed mine,” — Christy Hernandez, Library Patron

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SAPL hopes Wembanyama will eventually join a future event and plans to expand the exhibit to other branches while tracking circulation through the summer, the system’s busiest season.

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