A lectern is a piece of furniture with a slanted top, used to hold a book, speech, manuscript, etc., at the proper height for a reader or speaker. It is usually attached to a stand or affixed to some other form of support. Lecterns are often made of wood and may be either fixed in place or portable. They are commonly used in religious services, where they serve as the stand on which the Bible rests and from which the "lessons" (scripture passages, often selected from a lectionary) are read during the service. The lessons may be read or chanted by a priest, deacon, minister, or layperson, depending upon the liturgical traditions of the community. In monastic churches and cathedrals, a separate lectern is commonly set in the center of the church.
It is worth noting that the term "lectern" is also used in Minecraft, where it refers to a block used to display and read written books from, and it also serves as a librarians job site block.
