Hilchos Purim – 12 / Reading the Megillah (l)

1. It is the universal custom among all Jews for the Reader to spread out the Megillah like a “letter,” that is he does not leave it rolled up, but rather it is opened entirely and then folded back and forth. Care must be taken that not even a small part of the scroll be left hanging in the air, for that would be a disgrace for holy Scripture (Shulchan Aruch and Mishnah Berurah 690).

2. The Megillah should be unfolded before the recitation of the first blessing, and at the conclusion of the reading it is rolled up before reciting the after-blessing (ibid.).