In 1997, the institution reevaluated its mission to focus on promoting Palestinian literary heritage by engaging students in East Jerusalem and hosting cultural events for the local community.

Husayni partnered with the Dar Al-Tifl al-Arabi Institution to establish a research library and manuscript archive in the former mansion of Palestinian literary scholar, Issaf Nashashibi, in 1982.

Attempting to be, first and foremost, a resource for scholars of Palestinian history, was deemed unfeasible considering the restrictions on movement and access.

Today, the Center focuses on promoting Palestinian cultural heritage through events such as poetry readings and lectures aimed at engaging the population which has physical access to the Center—primarily residents of East Jerusalem.

The late Ishaq al-Husayni solicited the remainder of the collection from the personal libraries of other prominent Jerusalem families.