Do You Need a Library of Congress Number?

The simple answers are YES if you want to have your physical book in libraries, and NO, it’s not legally required for a self-published book. However, it is a mark of professionalism, and it does provide meta data and other advantages.

Library of Congress

The Library of Congress (LOC) is the National Library of the US, and is the largest library in the world. While it doesn’t actually hold a copy of every published book the country, it does have more than 164 million items on approximately 838 miles of bookshelves. The collections include more than 38 million books and other printed materials, 3.6 million recordings, 14 million photographs, 5.5 million maps, 8.1 million pieces of sheet music and 70 million manuscripts.

Library of Congress Control Number

The Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) is a serially-based system used to number cataloged items in the LOC. It has nothing to do with the contents of any book, and should not be confused with Library of Congress Classification.

The LCCN numbering system has been in use since 1898, at which time the acronym LCCN originally stood for Library of Congress Card Number. It’s also been called the Library of Congress Catalog Card Number, among other names. The LOC prepared cards of bibliographic information for their library catalog, and would sell duplicate sets to other libraries for use in their catalogs. Each set of cards was given a serial number to help identify it.

The Library of Congress control number (LCCN) is the unique identification that the LOC assigns to the catalog record that’s created for the bibliographic data, or catalog record, of each book in its collection, but not for the actual book. It’s not a call number for finding a specific edition or format of a particular title. Therefore, you only need one LCCN to cover a hardback and paperback for the same title, or to cover new editions of the same title.

Librarians all over the world use this unique identifier in the process of cataloging most of their books published in the US. It helps them reach the correct cataloging data (known as a cataloging record), which the Library of Congress and third parties make available on the Web and through other media.

Two LCCN Programs

LCCN can be acquired from the LOC through one of two programs:

• Cataloging in Publication (CIP): This program provides a complete bibliographic record, created by the LOC, for books yet to be published. Only US publishers “who publish titles that are most likely to be widely acquired by U.S. libraries are eligible to participate in the CIP program. Book vendors, distributors, printers, production houses and other intermediaries are ineligible. Publishers who have published the works of fewer than three different authors are in Self-publishers (i.e. authors and editors who pay for or subsidize publication of their own works; who often do not publish the works of more than three different authors; and whose works are rarely widely acquired by the nation’s libraries) are ineligible.”
• Preassigned Control Number (PCN): This program provides an LCCN assigned by the LOC before publication—if the publisher requests it and is approved for it—but it won’t include any bibliographic data. “Only U.S. book publishers are eligible to participate in the PCN program. These publishers must list a U.S. place of publication on the title page or copyright page of their books and maintain an editorial office in the U.S. capable of answering substantive bibliographic questions.” Most self-published books will go with the PCN. The application process, and the assignment, is FREE, and is available only to self-publishers who have created a business. The PCN office will determine if you’re eligible for an LCCN. Note that all of this has to be done before you publish your book.

The CIP and PCN programs are mutually exclusive; i.e., you can’t have both. So, which program should you use? You probably won’t have much choice if you’re self-published or run a very small publishing company that primarily publishes your own books.

Applying for an LCCN through the PCN program

To apply for a PCN, go to http://www.loc.gov/publish/pcn/. To qualify, your book usually must contain a minimum of 50 pages. The application process has two steps:

1. Apply for a PCN account: Fill in an online form with the name of the publisher, contact information, and your ISBN (which you should already have obtained). You’ll get an email from the LOC, with a username and a password with which you can complete the application.
2. Apply for a PCN (LCCN) for your book: The whole process might take less than 1-2 weeks, depending on their current workload. There’s no charge to get an LCCN. Note, however, that you must submit a physical copy of your published work to the LOC (make sure that it’s a “good” copy). If you don’t, you may be suspended from the program. Also, any books you submit will not be returned.

The LCCN should be included on the book’s copyright page. The formatting is described in the email or letter you get from the PCN office.

Conclusion

If your book qualifies, and if you see library distribution in your future, you should get an LCCN. It can make your book look more official or professional. And having an LCCN is one of the actions you take as a self-publisher that makes you really more of an independent publisher or small press.

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