An information reading and recording apparatus typically for use as a copying machine, a printer, or the like includes a reading unit for photoelectrically reading information from a document while the document is being horizontally fed in a first direction, and a recording unit for recording the information read by the reading unit on a recording medium while the recording medium is being fed in a second direction. The reading unit and the recording unit are disposed in upper and lower positions, respectively, and positioned relatively to each other such that the first and second directions extend across each other. The information reading and recording apparatus has a lower cover and an upper cover openably and closably supported on the lower cover, the recording unit being housed in the lower cover and the reading unit being housed in the upper cover.