A multimode actuator for a document scanning apparatus is used to manipulate a book cradle along two degrees of freedom. The apparatus includes a drive shaft that is moveable along an axis to actuate the drive shaft in a first position and a second position. In the first position, the drive shaft engages with a spacing gear and disengages with a translation gear, wherein a rotation of the drive shaft while in the first position causes spacing between cradle halves to change. In the second position, the drive shaft engages the translation gear and disengages the spacing gear, wherein a rotation of the drive shaft while in the second position causes the lateral position of the document cradle to change while maintaining the spacing between the cradle halves.