A method for control of a card reader is provided. A control unit of a card reader performs an IC contact holding step for continuously energizing a solenoid to press an IC contact block against a card, and a holding voltage lowering step in which a state in which the IC contact block is pressed against the card is kept by performing chopper control of repeatedly turning on and off energization to the solenoid. The control unit performs the chopper control with a duty cycle being lowered stepwise. A duty cycle one stage before a duty cycle that is first determined to be a duty cycle in which the IC contact block is not held in a spring contact position (that is, a sensor is turned off) is stored in a storage unit. Thereafter, chopper control is performed by using the duty cycle stored in the storage unit.