Books in Minecraft might not seem like a key resource at first glance, but you need them for some of the game’s most important mechanics. From enchantments to trading with villagers, they’re essential for obtaining valuable materials and rare enchantments. They’re also great for decoration or as a practical notepad, which many players overlook. So today we’ll take a closer look at books in Minecraft, how to farm them, and the different ways to use them.
Crafting Minecraft books: sugar cane farm and leather farm for paper and leather
Books are one of the oldest items in the game and have been around since Alpha version 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 one we know today: three paper and one leather. If you want to mass-produce books, you’ll need both paper and leather.
Paper farm: You craft paper from sugar cane, so you’ll want to build a sugar cane farm. These are straightforward and typically use observers in combination with pistons to automatically cut growing cane. We have a full guide with 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, especially cows. A small cow farm is ideal. Many players use entity cramming, where too many mobs in one spot begin to take damage. Place a herd of cows in water with a fence above them. Once more than 24 cows are inside and you breed them with wheat, they get pushed up and start to die. Learn more in our micro-farms article: (Simple Micro Farms for Minecraft: Compact and Automated) .
You can also acquire books out in the world:
- Break bookshelves in villages or strongholds without Silk Touch to obtain books.
- From chests in structures like shipwrecks, strongholds, villages, or ancient cities.
- As a Hero of the Village gift.
- By removing enchantments at a grindstone (enchanted books become normal books).
Books in Minecraft: uses, crafting recipes, and trading
Bookshelves in Minecraft: decor, 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 on top and bottom—hasn’t changed since. They’re perfect for decorating your base and adding character.
Bookshelves also have gameplay uses. For enchanting, you’ll need 15 bookshelves for your enchanting table to reach full power. They’re also part of the crafting recipe for the lectern.
You’ll find bookshelves generated naturally in villages and in stronghold libraries. Mine them with Silk Touch to take them intact. You can also trade emeralds for bookshelves with a librarian.
There’s also the Chiseled Bookshelf, which can store up to six books—regular books, enchanted books, or books and quills. Depending on the number of stored books, the shelf emits a redstone signal.
Book and quill in Minecraft: notes, coordinates, and lore
Combine a book, a feather, and an ink sac to craft a book and quill. You can open it and write your own text. This is incredibly useful and often underestimated—essentially an in‑game notepad.
Some ideas include:
- To-do lists for upcoming projects
- A diary of your world
- Clues and instructions for multiplayer servers
- Stories and lore
- Coordinate notes
- Travel logs
Enchanting table in Minecraft: bookshelves, enchanted books, and the anvil
Thanks to their association with knowledge, books are central to enchanting in Minecraft. First, they’re part of the enchanting table recipe, along with four obsidian and two diamonds. And as mentioned, you’ll need 15 bookshelves to unlock the enchanting table’s full potential.
You don’t have to enchant only tools or armor directly—you can also store enchantments on books. Later, use an anvil to transfer those enchanted books to your chosen tool or armor.
You can also find or obtain enchanted books: they appear in structure chests (some with exclusive enchantments), can be traded from villagers, or even fished up as treasure.
Lectern and villager trading: librarian, enchantments, and redstone signal
A lectern is crafted using a bookshelf, among other items. It’s vital for trading because placing one will turn an unemployed villager into a librarian. Librarians are a top source of valuable enchanted books, making them some of the most useful villagers.
The lectern also has an interesting redstone interaction. When you place a book and quill on it, it emits a redstone signal. The signal strength depends on the currently opened page relative to the book’s total length. This works with a comparator and is similar to the Chiseled Bookshelf. More here: (Minecraft Redstone Comparator: Doors, Passwords & Puzzles) .
Conclusion: Farm Minecraft books efficiently and use them smartly
Books are a very versatile item in Minecraft. Use them for decor, as trading resources, or for enchanting. There are also redstone mechanics many players miss. And don’t underestimate how useful the book and quill can be for capturing ideas or adding depth to your world.
Rent your own Minecraft server from us right now and explore the full potential of books. Set up farms for paper and leather so your friends always have enough resources for crafting books.
