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. <EOS>