The Society promotes and encourages study and research in historical, analytical, descriptive and textual bibliography through its lectures, fellowships and bursaries, and publishing its quarterly journal, The Library.

[2] The Book Encompassed, a volume of essays marking the Society's centenary was published in 1992.

In 1920 it took over publication of The Library (issued since 1889) and adopted that as the main title of the Transactions.

In 1937, Harry Carter, Ellic Howe, Alfred F. Johnson, Stanley Morison and Graham Pollard started to produce a list of all known pre-1800 type specimens.

The Society occasionally awards a gold medal for "distinguished services to bibliography to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the development of the subject and the furtherance of the Society's aims.