[2] It declares the entity's belief towards public libraries internationally as essential institutions for the promotion of peace and education for all of humanity.

The current version includes updates compiled over the course of the PGI Council Meeting of UNESCO in 1994.

Recognizing the public library as a local center of culture, the Manifesto lists some requirements for implementation and maintenance of such places.

It must provide space for use of library resources, offer relevant technology, and has a set of hours when open to its users.

The Manifesto stipulates that the collections are not built only on recent works, seeking to balance the traditional and the modern, in order to include all age groups of the population involved.