The purpose of the article is to reveal the role, main directions, and modern tendencies of methodicalsupport of the activities of public libraries of Ukraine in the maintenance implementation of tasks to readingpromoting. The methodology consists of the application of general scientific and special methods: methods of analysis, synthesis and generalization, comparison, review and analytical method, documentary analysis,which allows achieving this goal. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the comprehensive and systematicapproach to expanding ideas about the impact of methodical work on the activities of public libraries ofUkraine in the reading promotion. Conclusions. It was found that the loss of public interest in reading hasacquired national significance and requires immediate action. In such conditions of the need to increase thedemand for Ukrainian books and increase the status of reading the role of public libraries in the readingpromotion increases. It was studied that in these conditions a new concept of methodical support of librariesfor the reading promotion is formed. The main components of methodical work on popularization of booksand reading are analyzed: development of recommendations, publication of methodical manuals, professionaldevelopment of specialists, training in their use of modern technologies, organization of public actions thatattract attention to books and reading, carrying out conferences, seminars, generalization of own experienceand experience of other libraries, publication of best practices of libraries on the pages of professionalpublications and electronic resources. It has been investigated that methodologists actively use digitaltechnologies by providing methodological and advisory assistance to libraries in popularizing books andreading. The share of electronic methodical resources and providing remote access to them is increasing, avariety of forms, methods, directions, and products of methodical activity are being developed.Keywords: reading promotion, public libraries, methodical activities, main directions of methodologicalwork, methodical support, methodical editions, professional training, professional competitions, translationof experience, forms and methods of work.