The Library is a two-storey tower for the east wing of a Hearthfire homestead, built after the Main Hall. You can add it at Lakeview Manor, Windstad Manor or Heljarchen Hall, and it works the same in each. It is for players who can’t walk past a bookshelf without emptying it, which is most of us.
What you’ll find
- Nine bookshelves in total: four regular, five tall, plus a corner shelf. Fully built, they hold 308 books.
- A chair and a night table for reading, an inside chest and an exterior chest.
- Lighting from a small chandelier, a lamp stand and a wall sconce.
- A ladder from the upper floor to a rooftop balcony, shared with the Alchemy Laboratory and Enchanter’s Tower designs.
Building it
The structure goes up in seven stages, with the roof canopy as the optional last step. It needs 24 sawn logs, 16 quarried stone, 34 nails, 9 clay, 3 iron fittings, 3 locks and 6 hinges. With every furnishing added you are looking at about 47 sawn logs, 78 nails, 7 iron fittings, 10 hinges and 5 locks. Most of the extra cost is shelving, which eats 19 logs and 39 nails. A steward will furnish the Library for 1,500 gold.
Tips
- 308 books is a lot, but not everything: Skyrim has over 400 individual books, so one library can’t hold the full collection. Choose your favourites.
- Books on shelves have been known to vanish when the shelf is activated. Taking a book off normally is safe, so don’t rearrange your shelves more than you need to.
- Leave the canopy off for an open view over your homestead. Nothing else about the tower changes.
- All furnishings are permanent, so decide on this wing before you start.
Details checked against community wiki articles and the Skyrim game files, summarised in our own words.