The Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, established the practice of having Bahá'í publishers deposit five copies of every publication with the Bahá'í World Centre. The Universal House of Justice has continued this practice. Up to 1977 these depository volumes were listed in an accession book and then placed in various branch libraries at the World Centre.

In 1977 the Universal House of Justice established a formally operating Library with professional staff. Pending the construction of its own building it has occupied temporary locations, first in the Seat of the Universal House of Justice from 1983 to 1999, and currently in the Centre for the Study of the Texts. The Library is part of the Bahá'í World Centre's Department of Library and Archival Services, along with the Archives Office and Conservation Office.

The Library consists of two major divisions: Reference Services and Technical Services.