Minecraft wiki entry for Lectern, associated text: Lecterns can also hold a single book and quill or written book that other players can read at the same time. Right-clicking an empty one with a book and quill or written book places it. Right-clicking a lectern with a book already occupied opens an interface to read the book. Books occupying a lectern can be retrieved through the interface,‌[Java Edition only] punching the lectern‌[Bedrock Edition only] or by destroying the lectern, even when /gamerule doTileDrops is false.