The Bahá'í World Centre Library will continue to evolve into the institution of the International Bahá'í Library. The Universal House of Justice writes:
"This Library is the central depository of all literature published on the Faith, and is an essential source of information for the institutions of the World Centre on all subjects relating to the Cause of God and the conditions of mankind. In future decades its functions must grow, it will serve as an active centre for knowledge in all fields, and it will become the kernel of great institutions of scientific investigation and discovery."
Universal House of Justice to the Bahá'í world dated 31 August 1987,
It will have four main functions in the following categories:

Collection and dissemination of information:
  • Special library and depository for all publications on the Bahá'í Faith.
  • Information source on all subjects.
Encouragement of general scholarship and investigation:
  • Nucleus for great institutions of investigation and discovery in the sciences and arts.
  • Promotion of scholarly pursuit in arts and sciences, and fostering of research linking Bahá'í thought to all fields of knowledge.