Should I Register With Library Of Congress

Stories To Tell Books BLOG

Get a Library of Congress Number for Your Book

One of the questions we are frequently asked is, "What is a Library of Congress Command Number (LCCN) and how practise I get one?" A LCCN is distributed for free by the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. and corresponds to a created tape in their organization that libraries across the country can expect at if they want information on how to catalogue your book.

If y'all open any mainstream book to the copyright page, you'll find several lines of information on the lesser starting with the words, "Library of Congress Catalogue-in-Publication Information." In improver to the usual information such as writer and title, you lot can also notice the LCCN, appropriate subjects, and a Dewey Decimal number. While each different format of your book requires a different ISBN, you use 1 LCCN for every format bachelor (ebooks are not eligible). For cocky-published and small printing books, a Preassigned Command Number (PCN) is assigned instead of a LCCN. A PCN is a number assigned to a volume before information technology'due south published. According to the Library of Congress'south website, "Showtime, the book is reviewed by Library of Congress choice librarians. If the book is selected for memory in the Library's collections, then a bibliographic record will be created and this record volition appear in the Library'south online catalog. If the book is not selected for retentivity, the Library of Congress volition not create a catalog record for the volume."

Having a PCN for your book, fifty-fifty if it's not accepted into the Library of Congress's regular drove, is still important. As a unique identification number, it holds a place for book processing by libraries, book vendors, and the Library of Congress.

Obtaining a PCN as a small printing or self-published author is a quick and piece of cake procedure with two parts.

Registering as a Publisher:

If you haven't already, come up with your own publishing imprint/name. Yous will need this to register with the Library of Congress.
Go to Bowker.com and buy your ISBN(south) every bit a publisher. You will need office of the number for the Library of Congress awarding.
Become to http://www.loc.gov/publish/pcn/ and click on "Open an Account" under the words "Electronic PCN."
Read the information provided then click "Application to Participate."
Fill in all the required information and click "submit" at the bottom.
The Library of Congress will send you an email within a few days to let you know whether you have been accepted into the program. (The reply will likely be a yes.)

Registering Your Book

In one case you're approved, you are given a login and password with which you can so become back to http://www.loc.gov/publish/pcn/ and apply for a PCN.
Click on "PCN Application" in the height left-manus corner.
Fill up in all the required information for the volume you lot're publishing.