To handle cards of various sizes, widths, thicknesses and shapes with satisfactory operability.

An information reader 3 has guide paths 400, 402, 404 for inserting flat information carriers of three widths, respectively, and they are compatible with the carriers of different widths. The guide path 404 has an approximately horizontal groove shape of a rectangular section opening upward, and its opening end part is used as an insertion port 410 for inserting the carrier thereinto. The guide paths 400, 402, 404 support the carriers nearly horizontally by means of their bottom faces 400BF, 402BF, 404BF, and prevent the carriers from being displaced laterally by means of both side faces 400SF, 402SF, 404SF.