How to Make a Lectern in Minecraft? A Guide to Make

How to Make a Lectern in Minecraft

Are you looking to make a lectern in Minecraft but confused about how to do it the right way? Well, creating a lectern is easy, and you can quickly use it with the help of this detailed guide. 

A lectern in Minecraft is used as a job site for holding books to create a librarian profession for villagers. The lectern can be used to simply hold books, and one can even utilize it as a podium. 

If you want the villagers to become a librarian, you must create a wooden lectern for them. In this article, you will find all steps required to create a lectern.

Moreover, we have listed the exact way to use a lectern and the lectern commands you should know.

Without any further ado, let’s get started:

What is a Lectern in Minecraft and What You Can Use It For?

As we told before, a lectern in Minecraft is a block made using wood that’s used to arrange books. However, the purpose of a lectern is way more than you think, so it is important to know it before going on the steps to make it.

Lectern in Minecraft

Here’s what you can use a lectern for:

  • A lectern in Minecraft can be used as a job site to turn villagers into librarian villagers. It is not necessary for the villagers to keep the books or use them in any way, but having a lectern is essential to turn them into a librarian.
  • Villagers with other professionals can also change it when there is a lectern near them. 
  • Lecterns create a Bass-like sound when used under a note-block.
  • Lecterns in Minecraft emit a strong Redstone signal when the player flips a book. You can use the Redstone comparator to record the Redstone signal.
  • Minecraft players can also put a written book or a Book and Quill on a lectern. Also, the lectern can be used in multiplayer mode, and many players can read it at once. Lastly, players can retrieve the book by clicking on the lectern.

Supported Platforms to Make a Lectern in Minecraft 

You can only make a lectern in Minecraft on the supported platforms. Any other platform apart from these will not let you make a lectern and use it.

Supported PlatformsSupported Versions
Xbox OneYes (1.10.0)
PS4Yes (1.90)
Nintendo SwitchYes (1.10.0)
Education EditionYes (1.12.0)
Windows 10 EditionYes (1.10.0)
Pocket Edition (PE)Yes (1.10.0)
Java Edition (PC/Mac)Yes (1.14)

If you play Minecraft on any of the aforementioned supported platforms, then you can make a lectern in it.

How to Make a Lectern in Minecraft: A Step-by-step Guide 

Below I have listed all steps to make a lectern in Minecraft. Moreover, you will find some quick tips and a list of materials, so you can execute these steps quickly.

Materials Required to Make a Lectern in Minecraft

Minecraft: How to Make Lectern

In Minecraft, you can use the following materials to quickly make a lectern and start using it for the purposes you want.

Materials Required to Make a Lectern
  • One bookshelf 
  • Four birch slabs 
  • Four jungle slabs 
  • Four acacia slabs 
  • Four spruce slabs 
  • Four crimson slabs 
  • Four warped slabs 
  • Four dark oak slabs 
  • Four oak slabs 

An Important Note: There is no need to gather all wooden slabs. You can use any type of slabs for creating a lectern.

Steps to Make a Lectern in Minecraft 

Step 1: Open Your Crafting Menu 

Crafting Menu 

Start with opening the “Crafting Menu”. You will see a grid, as shown in the image below. 

Step 2: Add the Bookshelf and Slabs to the Menu 

In the crafting table, there are multiple grids, and you need to add the wooden slabs as well as the bookshelf to these grids. You can use any type of wooden slabs, including oak, warped, crimson, birch, spruce, jungle, acacia, and more.

Making Lectern

You need to add these items to the grid exactly, as shown below in the image. Place three wooden slabs in the “First Row”, and then add a bookshelf in the “Center Grid” of the second row. Again, add one wooden slab to the center grid of the third row. 

Step 3: Safely Move the Lectern to Your Minecraft Inventory 

Move the Lectern

Once done placing the wooden slabs and bookshelf, your lectern is ready to be moved in the Minecraft inventory. After dragging it to the inventory, you are done, and the lectern can be used on the job site block to make villagers librarian villagers.

Now you can use it to hold multiple books and emit the Redstone signal. 

Can You Make a Lectern in Minecraft Without Creating It?

Yes, you can get access to a lectern without creating it, and players call it the natural generation of the lectern. What you need to do is find an empty lectern by going to different village libraries. 

The chances of finding an empty lectern are less since other players might also be riding on the same boat as yours. So, I would recommend creating a lectern on your own. Also, you can Repair Bow in Minecraft step-by-step guide.

Minecraft Lectern Commands You Should Know 

Once done creating a lectern, you can use the following commands:

PlatformsSupported VersionsCommand
Java 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.18.1, 1.18.2 and 1.19/give @p lectern 1
PE1.10.0, 1.11.0, 1.12.0, 1.13.0, 1.14.0, 1.16.0, 1.17.0, 1.18.0 and 1.18.12/give @p lectern 1 0
PlayStation 1.14.0, 1.16.0, 1.17.0, 1.18.0 and 1.18.12/give @p lectern 1 0
Win101.10.0, 1.11.0, 1.12.0, 1.13.0, 1.14.0, 1.16.0, 1.17.0, 1.18.0 and 1.18.12/give @p lectern 1 0
Edu1.12.0, 1.12.60, 1.14.31 and 1.17.30/give @p lectern 1 0
Xbox 1.10.0, 1.11.0, 1.12.0, 1.13.0, 1.14.0, 1.16.0, 1.17.0, 1.18.0 and 1.18.12/give @p lectern 1 0

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: How do you turn a villager into a librarian?

A: You can turn any villager into a librarian provided they are not a nitwit or have not claimed a bed nearby. Any villager seeking a nearby job can be turned into a librarian after you make a lectern in Minecraft. 

Q: How do you make a lectern out of a book?

A: You will need a bookshelf and wooden slabs to make a lectern. Making a lectern is not possible without a bookshelf or wooden slabs.

Q: How to make wood slabs?

A: You can make wooden slabs in Minecraft using wooden planks. Put three wooden planks on the crafting table to fill up any rows, and you can easily create six wooden slabs using this recipe. 

Q: Can you put an enchanted book on a lectern?

A: No, you cannot put an enchanted book on a lectern. There are just two things you can put on it, and that include a Book and Quill and a written book.

Final Thoughts 

As you know the exact recipe to make a lectern in Minecraft, it is time to make it. Follow all instructions listed in this article, and you can quickly create a lectern to turn villagers into librarians.

Or you can also find a pre-created empty lectern and use it by placing the book on it. I’ve also listed the lectern commands that you should know and the exact versions that support these commands.

Do let me know if you experience any issues in making a lectern or in changing villagers’ professions.

Enjoy playing!