[Purpose/significance] Legislation of national reading has been the focus of social attention. It is necessary to analyze the local legislation of national reading in Jiangsu, Hubei, Liaoning, Shenzhen and Sichuan to resolve the basic spirit and essence of national reading legislation.[Method/process] The paper analyzes the characteristics and problems of legislation purpose, organization and management, Funds, team construction, service facilities, the social resources integration, the duties of a public library, service key crowd, reading characteristics and brand projects, supervision and evaluation and legal liability in five local regulations etc. [Result/conclusion] This paper presents that our national reading legislation should highlight the prospectiveness and pertinence, take protection of citizen right to read and encouragement of people's participation in the national reading as a key point, achieve national reading resources benefit maximization and optimization, and enhance the enforceability and operability of reading regulations.