DOCUMENT READING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS

A document reading device includes: a reading position at which information on a document is read; a light source that radiates light toward the document passing through the reading position; a light receiving section that receives reflected light generated from the light from the light source; and a background reflection section disposed to reflect the light from the light source so as to be received by the light receiving section through the reading position. When the document is not present, the background reflection section reflects an amount of light that is greater than an amount of document-reflected light reflected by the document which is white. The background reflection section is formed by processing a specular surface so as to reflect an amount of light that is less than an amount of specularly reflected light reflected by a specular surface.