Staff said visitors are stopping by to snap photos with the display, which highlights books connected to Wembanyama and his reading habits.
SAN ANTONIO — A display inside San Antonio’s Central Library is turning the city’s love for the Spurs into a celebration of reading, and it’s now getting national attention.
The San Antonio Public Library’s “Read Like Wemby” display, inspired by Spurs star Victor Wembanyama’s well-known love of books, was recently featured in The New York Times.
At the Central Library, staff said visitors are stopping to snap photos with the display, which highlights books connected to Wembanyama and his reading habits.
“People will come by and take photographs with the ‘Read Like Wemby’ display because they saw it on social media or they read about it in the New York Times,” said Scott Williams, marketing manager for the San Antonio Public Library.
Library staff said the idea felt like a natural fit because Wembanyama has become known for carrying books while traveling and openly promoting reading.
“It’s not every day that somebody who is an international superstar in your own backyard is also a voracious reader, and somebody who loves and promotes reading and literacy,” Williams said.
The idea for the display grew after online accounts began tracking the books Wemby was seen carrying in public. Library staff then turned those titles into a featured display at the Central Library and also created online reading lists for visitors to explore.
“We took some of the books that Wemby had been reading and turned them into a display here at our Central Library and reading lists that you can find on our website,” Williams said.
Since gaining attention online and appearing in The New York Times, library leaders said they’ve seen increased foot traffic, more website visits and more books being checked out.
“I think it’s every marketing and PR person’s dream to be featured in the New York Times, and I can’t think of a better story to break into that publication than something like this that combines our local culture with what the library stands for,” Williams said.
Library leaders said they hope to continue creating displays tied to San Antonio culture and community events to encourage more people to visit the library.