The present invention provides a document reading apparatus having a document placing plate and a transparent flat plate which hold a document with a surface to be read directed upward, a sensor unit for reading image information of an image on the document surface to be read through the transparent flat plate, a drive mechanism for driving the sensor unit in a direction parallel with the flat plate, and a position entering unit for indicating an arbitrary position on the document surface to be read by a visible light through the transparent flat plate and for detecting the position in association with a transparent tablet. Image reading and position entry can be made with a document held in the apparatus.