<p>A reading stand includes a page turning mechanism which has two turning arms 61, 62 extending radially from a rotary shaft 53 located adjacent to an intermediate part of a back plate member 10. The arms are turned from one side of the shaft to the other side so as to turn a paper sheet of a book held by the reading stand. One of the arms has a paper sheet taking member 71 such as a suction cup and the other arm has a paper sheet pressing member 621. A motor 51 with a control mechanism operates the arms.</p>
