Lectern

What is a Lectern?

A Lectern is a functional and decorative block in Minecraft, primarily used to hold written books and convert Villagers into Librarians. It allows multiple players to read a Book and Quill or Written Book at the same time, making it useful for adventure maps, storytelling, and roleplaying servers. Additionally, it emits a Redstone signal when a page is turned, making it useful in Redstone contraptions.

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Where Can Lecterns Be Found?

Lecterns naturally generate in villages with Librarian Villagers, where they serve as job site blocks. Players can also craft a Lectern using four Wooden Slabs and one Bookshelf, placing the Bookshelf in the center and the Slabs above and below it inside a Crafting Table.

Since Bookshelves require three books and six planks, crafting a Lectern requires access to Leather, Paper, and Wood, making it a mid-game crafting item.

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What Can Players Do with a Lectern?

The main function of a Lectern is holding books. Players can place a Book and Quill or Written Book on a Lectern, allowing multiple players to read it simultaneously. This makes Lecterns useful for in-game libraries, rulebooks on servers, and storytelling adventures. However, unlike a Chest, the Lectern does not store books permanently—removing the book places it back in the player’s inventory.

Lecterns are also essential for Villager trading. Placing a Lectern near an Unemployed Villager will cause them to take the Librarian profession, allowing players to trade for enchanted books, bookshelves, and name tags. Breaking the Lectern and replacing it will reset a Librarian’s trades until they have been locked in, allowing players to cycle trades to get valuable enchantments like Mending or Unbreaking III.

Lecterns also interact with Redstone. When a player turns a page in the book placed on a Lectern, it emits a Redstone signal. This mechanic can be used in secret doors, puzzle rooms, and Redstone-powered libraries, adding an interactive element to builds.

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The History of Lecterns in Minecraft

Lecterns were introduced in Minecraft Java Edition 1.14, as part of the “Village & Pillage” update. This update expanded Villager professions, improving trading mechanics and adding job site blocks like the Lectern, Stonecutter, and Fletching Table.

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Interesting Fact or Real-Life Connection

Lecterns in Minecraft resemble real-world wooden reading stands, which have been used for centuries in churches, libraries, and lecture halls to hold books and speeches. Much like their real-world counterparts, Minecraft Lecterns serve as places of knowledge, allowing players to share information and trade magical books with Villagers.

For more details on Lecterns and Villager trading strategies, visit the Rusty Ingot knowledge base to explore the Lectern Guide.