Bookshelf

Bookshelves, or bookcases, are a category of buy mode objects in The Sims series.

The Sims
Bookshelves contain an infinite number of books. Bookshelves can be used by adult Sims to study cooking or mechanical. Bookshelves can also be used by child Sims to study for school; doing so eventually raises the child's school grade. Sims can also read books from the bookshelf for enjoyment.


 * Notes
 * Custom content is not listed. Some bookshelves were available for download at TheSims.com (as the website has been shut down, said bookshelves can be downloaded here), and shipped with The Sims: Complete Collection. Those bookshelves are not listed here.

The Sims 2
Bookshelves contain an unlimited number of skill and non-skill books. They can be used by any Sim, child or older, to develop cooking, mechanical and cleaning skills. These options of a visible skill still remain, however, for Sims that maxed it out. Sims can also read books from the bookshelf for enjoyment, or write in their diary. Teens and older can read books from the bookshelf to toddlers and children. Sims cannot study from the bookshelf to increase their grades, although young adults in college can use the bookshelf to do research.

Books are considered to be separate from the bookshelf, unlike The Sims. Since most books in The Sims 2 are considered to be the same and can be used for the same purposes, it is possible for a bookshelf to simply be sold after a Sim has removed a book from one. Books removed from a bookshelf can be placed on the ground or on tables, and can be used again an unlimited number of times. If a bookshelf is present, Sims can be instructed to put books back into the bookshelf, and neat Sims may do this autonomously after reading a book.

With Open for Business, books can be sold by marking any bookshelf with the sale tool. This allows players to start and run a simulated bookstore. The Sims 2: FreeTime and The Sims 2: Apartment Life has introduced a number of Life skills, which can be learned by reading from any book.

Bookshelves can be found in the "Hobbies > Knowledge" section of buy mode, and can be placed on both residential and community lots.

The Sims 3
In The Sims 3, bookshelves hold books, but books must be purchased individually. The interface allows the player to move books into and out of the bookshelf. Unlike in The Sims and The Sims 2, where Sims can get the same books from different shelves, in The Sims 3, different bookshelves will have different books in them. (eg. Bookshelf 1 has a cookbook in it but not Bookshelf 2. The Sim cannot get a cookbook from Bookshelf 2, unless the cookbook is placed in Bookshelf 2.)

Library bookshelves
Bookshelves placed on residential lots automatically contain low level skill books, a toddler book, and several general books. Bookshelves placed on library community lots automatically contain a variety of books. Certain bookshelves when placed on a library will generate certain books.
 * The Book Corral, Penningway Bookshelf, Cobalt Codex Bookshelf, and Tower of Biblio Triple Bookshelf will generate skill books.
 * Classically Tasteful Literature Shelving, SolidShelf 9000, and Summer By The Sea Shelf will generate toddler books.
 * A-Frame Bookshelf by Clap 'n' Board will generate comic books.

Note while the one-story and three-story bookshelves from Into the Future will generate skill books in libraries, the two-story bookshelf won't.