I have been sent to Mzinchalft for book , but on the map from another quest I've "Cleared" the place. Does this "Cleared" mean I have already picked this book up before ?

I looked at the map "L" and in the backwhatever the icon that said "Quest location" was a lifts handle ..

Its been that long since my first time there, I can't remember if I found this book already or does taking the quest from the college activate the book.

I am going round in cirecles, I look at the map L and as I said the marker you are supposed to go to , it the lift up to Skyrim.

Doesn't matter if you have cleared a location before, you will find the book in the main loot chest.

If the book you're looking for is Shalidor's Insights, I found it in a different location....

@Gaelsong - Its a radiant quest, it could be in a ny one of 30 or so different dungeons, different for each character.

OP- Just follow the quest arrow, it'll be there

The dungeons will forever say "Cleared" if you clear them once, but they will repopulate over time (30 game days maybe). I've even had them force repopulate if a quest sends me there. Either way, I've walked through some with no repopulation to the chest to get the item.

thanks everyone .

You don't even need them to repopulate to find the item. The quest script adds the item to the chest when you recieve the quest. If you already cleared the area you'll just be able to walk through, loot the end-dungeon chest and find the book there (even if you'd already taken everything from that chest, it'll mysteriously be there now).