At first glance, books in Minecraft might not seem like an essential resource, but you need them for some of the game’s most important mechanics. From enchantments to trading with villagers, books are key to getting valuable materials and rare enchants. They’re also great for decoration or as a practical notepad, which many players overlook. So today we’re taking 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 version 1.0.11. Veteran players may remember that books used to be crafted from just three paper. With Version 1.3.1, the recipe changed to the one we know today: three paper and one leather. To mass-produce books, you’ll need both paper and leather.
Paper farm: You make paper from sugar cane, so you’ll want to build a sugar cane farm. It’s 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 for other recipes too, so a larger farm pays off.
Leather farm: Leather is renewable and drops from several animals, notably cows. A small cow farm is recommended. Many players use entity cramming in Minecraft, where too many mobs in one spot take damage. Place a herd of cows in water with a fence on top. When there are more than 24 cows and you breed them with wheat, they’ll be pushed up and die. Learn more in our micro-farm 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.
- Find them in certain structures like 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: Decoration, enchanting, and crafting
Bookshelves are even older than books themselves and were among the first decorative blocks in the game. The recipe—three books in the middle with three wooden planks above and below—hasn’t changed. They’re perfect for decorating your base and giving it charm.
Bookshelves also have gameplay uses. For example, you need 15 bookshelves for enchanting so the enchanting table can reach full power. They’re also part of the crafting recipe for the lectern.
You’ll find naturally generated bookshelves in villages or in stronghold libraries. Mine them with Silk Touch to take them with you. You can also trade emeralds for bookshelves with a Librarian.
There’s also the chiseled bookshelf, which can hold up to six books—regular books, enchanted books, or book and quill. Depending on the number of books, it 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. You can open it and write your own text. It has many uses and is often underestimated—practically an in-game notepad.
Possible examples include:
- To-do list for upcoming projects
- Diary of your world
- Hints for multiplayer servers
- Stories and lore
- Notes for coordinates
- Travel journal
Enchanting table in Minecraft: Bookshelves, enchanted books, and anvil
Thanks to their association with knowledge, 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 full power of the enchanting table.
You can enchant not only tools or armor directly, but also store enchantments on books. You can later apply these enchanted books to your desired tool or armor at an anvil.
Enchanted books can also be found or obtained. They appear in various structures (some with exclusive enchantments), can be traded from villagers, or fished up.
Lectern and villager trading: Librarian, enchantments, and redstone signal
A lectern is crafted in part with a bookshelf. It’s important for trading because a lectern turns an unemployed villager into a Librarian. The Librarian is a source of valuable enchanted books, making them one of the most useful villagers.
The lectern also has an interesting redstone interaction. If you place a Book and Quill on it, it emits a redstone signal. The strength depends on the currently open page relative to the book’s total length. This works with a comparator and is similar to chiseled bookshelves. More on that here: (Minecraft Redstone Comparator: Doors, Passwords & Puzzles) .
Conclusion: Efficiently farm and smartly use Minecraft books
Books are a very versatile item in Minecraft. Use them as decor, as trade goods, or for enchanting. Add in redstone mechanics that are often overlooked. And don’t underestimate the usefulness of the Book and Quill to capture ideas or add depth to your world.
Rent your own Minecraft server from us and explore the many ways to use books. Set up farms for paper and leather so your friends always have enough resources for books.
