Public and public access libraries are organized for the provision of a differentiated set of reading goods. They declare to be open institutions for the use of the public. We address the characteristics of the provision and uses of goods in public libraries, referring to the complexity of these characteristics. The theme of library economics and public reading needs to be deepened to build reflection and proposal on public policies of culture, including policies of public reading. We advance the need to understand some lines of economic thought about reading goods, the market, and valuation, sharing and enjoyment of cultural goods. We focus on the economy of public reading in Portugal and the provision of services and goods that propitiate their shared and/or common usage, while acknowledging that there may similarities with other locations and other areas of culture. We reflect on the current relevance of public policies for reading in libraries and on the need to think about public and common modes of provision of cultural goods and services