[Purpose/significance] Sudden public emergencies affect and change people's daily behaviors and habits. People's reading demands, reading mode and reading habits change in the abnormal environment, which pose new challenges and requirements to the reading promotion service of libraries.[Method/process] This paper discussed duties and functions carried by library reading service from the viewpoint of related legal principles and academic theories. Meanwhile, it put forward specific supply strategies and feasible suggestions in reading service in light of the features of reading demands and reading behaviors and habits of the public in the epidemic situation of current "novel coronavirus pneumonia".[Result/conclusion] Libraries should select the information of public emergencies scientifically, and carry out crisis response consulting services. Pay attention to the psychological adjustment of readers while improving the way of online reading, further enhancing functions and influences in dealing with sudden public emergencies.