Natchez Mayor Launches Free Book Club for Young Children

Mayor Dan M. Gibson announces new early childhood literacy initiative to mail books monthly at no cost to families.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Natchez Mayor Dan M. Gibson is launching the Mayor's Book Club, a new early childhood literacy program that will mail age-appropriate books each month to children from birth to age 5 at no cost to their families. The program aims to reach 500 children monthly and will be celebrated with a launch event on March 12 at Dixon Books in downtown Natchez.

Why it matters

This mayor-sponsored book club is thought to be the first of its kind in the state of Mississippi, reflecting Natchez's dedication to improving early childhood literacy and educational outcomes. Providing free books to young children can significantly boost their chances of future academic and professional success.

The details

The Mayor's Book Club will officially launch on Thursday, March 12 from 4-6 pm at Dixon Books in downtown Natchez. At the event, parents and caregivers will be able to register their children birth to age 5 for the program, which will then mail them a new age-appropriate book each month at no cost. Mayor Gibson hopes the program will reach 500 children monthly, providing them with essential early exposure to reading and books.

  • The Mayor's Book Club launch event will take place on Thursday, March 12, 2026 from 4-6 pm.
  • The book club program will begin mailing books to registered children in April 2026.

The players

Dan M. Gibson

The mayor of Natchez, Mississippi who is launching the new Mayor's Book Club early childhood literacy initiative.

Dixon Books

The local bookstore in downtown Natchez that will host the launch event for the Mayor's Book Club.

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What they’re saying

“We are excited to share the love of reading with future generations. Today's young readers will be tomorrow's great leaders. Statistics prove that introducing our children to books at an early age significantly increases their odds of success. Reading is exercise for the imagination, stimulating young minds to imagine and achieve great things.”

— Dan M. Gibson, Mayor of Natchez

“This project reflects our dedication to the future of Natchez. We look forward to sharing more details in the coming weeks and invite stakeholders to join us as we embark on this exciting journey. Look for the Mayor's Book Club logo and sign up your children!”

— Dan M. Gibson, Mayor of Natchez

What’s next

Parents and caregivers of children birth to age 5 can register their children for the Mayor's Book Club at the launch event on March 12, as well as at Natchez City Hall, Dixon Books, the Natchez Library, and other locations around town in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

By providing free books to young children, the Natchez Mayor's Book Club aims to boost early childhood literacy and set up local kids for future academic and professional success. This mayor-led initiative reflects Natchez's commitment to investing in the community's youngest residents and their educational development.