Usually the Lectern one was of those pieces that served as merely decoration for my house in Minecraft, like at the center of a library or great hall, but there’s more to it than that. If you’re someone who likes to run villages and villagers, crafting at least one Lectern can help you access a variety of items. And the best part is that it doesn’t take much to craft a Lectern in Minecraft.
Minecraft Lectern Recipe
[Updated September 7, 2024 – Rewrote guide and added new images.]
Starting with the crafting recipe itself, making a Lectern in Minecraft only requires two main ingredients:
- x4 Wooden Slabs
- x1 Bookshelf
- And a Crafting Table
Those aren’t outrageous, but Wooden Slabs nor Bookshelves grow on trees in Minecraft. Altogether, you’ll need to find Sugar Cane for Paper, wooden planks from logs, and Leather from cows.
Once you have the Wooden Slabs and Bookshelf, head to a Crafting Table and place them inside, like so:
- Three Wooden Slabs along the top row.
- The Bookshelf in the middle.
- The remaining Wooden Slab under the Bookshelf.
And now you have yourself a Lectern in Minecraft. The question is, what is its purpose? Is it really just there to look pretty?
How To Use a Lectern in Minecraft
At first glance, it seems like the Lectern is a decorative piece, and that’s only partially true. Holding a single book and quill like an adventurer’s log or in the middle of a library or in some great hall—it’s a good way to make a room feel complete.
The second, arguably more useful purpose is using a Lectern to turn villagers into Librarians in Minecraft. In doing so, they’ll generate Enchanted Books, giving you a good way to acquire rare books and enchantments. It’s a win-win!
Sometimes a Lectern will generate naturally in a village, but it isn’t always guaranteed. In fact, if you don’t want to find the Sugar Cane to make paper, you could always raid a nearby village for a Lectern.
