At first glance, books in Minecraft might not seem especially important, yet you need them for some of the game’s most crucial systems. From enchantments to trading with villagers, books help you secure key materials and rare enchantments. They also shine as decoration or a practical notepad, which many players overlook. Today we’ll take a closer look at books in Minecraft, how to farm them, and the different ways you can use them.
Crafting books in Minecraft: Sugar cane farm and leather farm for paper and leather
Books are one of the oldest items in the game, present since Alpha 1.0.11. Veteran players might remember that books used to be crafted from just three paper. With version 1.3.1, the recipe changed to the current one: three paper and one leather. So, to mass-produce books, you’ll need both paper and leather.
Paper farm: You obtain paper from sugar cane, so you’ll want to build a sugar cane farm. This is straightforward and uses Observers in combination with Pistons to automatically cut growing sugar cane. We have a full guide if you want all the details: (Minecraft Sugarcane Farm Guide: How to Build an Automatic Sugarcane Farm for Unlimited Paper and Sugar) . Paper is useful in other recipes too, so a larger farm pays off.
Leather farm: Leather is a renewable drop from several animals, notably cows. A small cow farm is recommended. Many players use Entity Cramming in Minecraft, where too many mobs packed into one space take damage. Place a herd of cows in water with a fence above. When more than 24 cows are inside and you breed them with wheat, they get pushed up and die. Learn more in our micro-farms article: (Simple Micro-Farms for Minecraft: Compact and Automated) .
You can also obtain books in other ways out in the world:
- Break bookshelves in villages or strongholds without Silk Touch to get books.
- From certain structures, such as shipwrecks, strongholds, villages, or ancient cities.
- As a Hero of the Village reward.
- By removing enchantments at a Grindstone.
Books in Minecraft: Uses, crafting recipes, and trading
Bookshelves in Minecraft: Deco, enchanting, and crafting
Bookshelves are even older than books themselves and were among the game’s first decorative blocks. The recipe of three books in the centre with three wooden planks above and below has never changed. They’re perfect for decorating your base and adding character.
Bookshelves also have gameplay uses. For example, you need 15 bookshelves for enchanting so that the Enchanting Table can reach its full potential. They’re also part of the crafting recipe for the Lectern.
You’ll find bookshelves naturally generated in villages or in stronghold libraries. Mine them with Silk Touch to take them intact. You can also trade emeralds for bookshelves with a Librarian.
There is also the Chiselled Bookshelf, which can store up to six books—regular books, enchanted books, or Book and Quill. Depending on the number of books it holds, the shelf emits a Redstone signal.
Book and Quill in Minecraft: Notes, coordinates, and lore
With a Book, a Feather, and an Ink Sac, you can craft a Book and Quill. Open it to write your own text. It has lots of uses and is often underestimated—essentially an in‑game notepad.
Possible examples include:
- To-do list for upcoming projects
- Diary for your world
- Clues for multiplayer servers
- Stories and lore
- Notes for coordinates
- Travel log
Enchanting Table in Minecraft: Bookshelves, enchanted books, and Anvil
Books are a key part of enchanting in Minecraft. First, they’re part of the Enchanting Table recipe, along with four Obsidian and two Diamonds. And as mentioned, you also need 15 bookshelves to unlock the Enchanting Table’s full power.
You can enchant not only tools or armour directly, but also store enchantments on books. These enchanted books can later be applied to your chosen tool or armour on an Anvil.
Enchanted books can also be found or acquired. They appear in certain structures (some with exclusive enchantments), can be traded from villagers, or fished up as treasure.
Lectern and villager trading: Librarian, enchantments, and Redstone signal
A Lectern is crafted using a bookshelf, among other materials. It’s vital for trading because a Lectern turns an unemployed villager into a Librarian. Librarians are the source of valuable enchanted books, making them some of the most useful villagers.
The Lectern also has an interesting Redstone interaction. If you place a Book and Quill on it, it will emit a Redstone signal. The strength depends on the current page relative to the book’s total length. This works with a Comparator and is similar to Chiselled Bookshelves. Learn more here: (Minecraft Redstone Comparator: Doors, Passwords & Puzzles) .
Conclusion: Farm books efficiently in Minecraft and use them wisely
Books are a very versatile item in Minecraft. Use them as decoration, for trading, or for enchanting. Add in Redstone mechanics that are often overlooked. And don’t underestimate the usefulness of the Book and Quill for jotting down ideas or adding depth to your world.
Rent your own Minecraft server from us right now and explore the many uses of books. Set up farms for paper and leather so your fellow players always have enough resources for books.
