[1] The institute is located in the building of the former Empress Alexandra Russian Muslim Boarding School for Girls, established in 1901 by H.Z.Taghiyev on Istiglaliyyat Street[2] and designed by the Polish architect Józef Gosławski.

[3] In 1924, during the All-Azerbaijani Regional Congress held in Baku, it was decided to found a scientific library with a special department dedicated to ancient manuscripts and rare books.

[6] Copies of works such as Medical Laws by Abu Ali Ibn Sina, About Surgery and surgical tools and The thirtieth treatise of Abul-Gasim az-Zahravi, Supplies of Nizamshah, Gulshani-raz by Sheikh Mahmoud Shabustari, Divan by Nasimi, and Bustan by Sadi made in the 12th-15th centuries are the most ancient manuscripts preserved within the Institute of Manuscripts.

Between 2005–2017, three Azerbaijani medieval medical manuscripts held within the institute were included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.

They were Al-Qanun Fi at-Tibb (Canon Of Medicine, The Second Book) by Abu Ali Ibn Sina (Avicenna) (transferred in 1143), Zakhirai-Nizamshahi (Supplies Of Nizamshah) by Rustam Jurjani (13th century) and Al-Makala as-Salasun (Thirteen Treatise) by Abu al-Qasim al-Zahravi (Abulcasis) (12th century).