【Purpose/significance】To analyze the frequency of participation and level of participation can provide referencefor community digital reading services and construction.【Method/process】First, we construct the theoretical framework ofparticipatory behavior and motivation. Then, through the regression analysis based on the data collected via questionnaires,this paper has investigated each participation motivation’s influence on the hours spent in participating in social readingcommunity, participation frequency and participation forms.【Result/conclusion】The results show that the overall participa-tion of college students in the social reading community is still at a level of shallow contribution to the community, while co-operation and co-construction and other higher level of contribution to participation is still relatively less. Socializing moti-vation and entertainment has positive effects on the students’ hours and frequency of participation, and entertainment, inter-ests, information motivation, socializing motivation and self-actualization all play a certain role in the level of participation.At present, the participation of college students is mainly motivated by controlled motives.However, the importance of auton-omous motivations in influencing the college students’ participation in cooperation and other high-level participation is notsupported.