An image reading apparatus comprising: a housing comprising a processing unit configured to process image information; an opening and closing member openably and closably provided on the housing, the opening and closing member comprising a reading unit configured to read an image from an image holding medium and configured to obtain image information from the image; a connection member that electrically connects the reading unit and the processing unit; and a protective member comprising a first protective member rotatably supported by the opening and closing member and a second protective member rotatably supported by the housing and rotatably connected to the first protective member, wherein the protective member further comprises a connecting portion that connects the first protective member and the second protective member, and the first protective member comprises a cover portion that covers the connecting portion from an outside; wherein rotation axial directions of the first protective member and the second protective member are the same direction as a rotation axial direction of the opening and closing member, and the connection member is accommodated in the protective member and protected by the protective member, characterised in that the protective member accommodates an other connection member different from the connection member, and an inside of the protective member is partitioned into a part accommodating the connection member and a part accommodating the other connection member. a housing comprising a processing unit configured to process image information; an opening and closing member openably and closably provided on the housing, the opening and closing member comprising a reading unit configured to read an image from an image holding medium and configured to obtain image information from the image; a connection member that electrically connects the reading unit and the processing unit; and a protective member comprising a first protective member rotatably supported by the opening and closing member and a second protective member rotatably supported by the housing and rotatably connected to the first protective member, wherein the protective member further comprises a connecting portion that connects the first protective member and the second protective member, and the first protective member comprises a cover portion that covers the connecting portion from an outside; a first protective member rotatably supported by the opening and closing member and a second protective member rotatably supported by the housing and rotatably connected to the first protective member, wherein the protective member further comprises a connecting portion that connects the first protective member and the second protective member, and the first protective member comprises a cover portion that covers the connecting portion from an outside; wherein rotation axial directions of the first protective member and the second protective member are the same direction as a rotation axial direction of the opening and closing member, and the connection member is accommodated in the protective member and protected by the protective member, characterised in that the protective member accommodates an other connection member different from the connection member, and an inside of the protective member is partitioned into a part accommodating the connection member and a part accommodating the other connection member.