The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with millions of books, recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps, and manuscripts in its collections. The Library is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office.
Library of Congress Catalog Control Number
A Library of Congress catalog control number is a unique identification number that the Library of Congress assigns to the catalog record created for each book in its cataloged collections. Librarians use it to locate a specific Library of Congress catalog record in the national databases and to order catalog cards from the Library of Congress or from commercial suppliers.
Authors and self publishers can have a control number assigned to their books and be included in the cataloged collections through the Preassigned Control Number Program (PCN).
Based on the information provided by the publisher, Library staff will assign a preassigned Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) to each title. The publisher prints the LCCN on the copyright page in the following format:
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019012345
Preassigned Control Number Program (PCN)
The purpose of the Preassigned Control Number (PCN) program is to enable the Library of Congress to assign control numbers in advance of publication to those titles that may be added to the Library’s collections.
PCN Process
Authors and Self publishers can request an LCCN after setting up a PrePub Book Link (PPBL) account at https://loc.gov/publish/prepubbooklink/
Click on “Create Account” under New Account
Enter the name, email address, and password you want to use with the account.
You will receive an email with the Subject Line “Welcome to the Preassigned Control Number Program” when your account is set up.
Eligibility
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.
Scope
Books that fall in the categories listed below are NOT eligible for the PCN Program. Library of Congress Control Numbers (LCCN) are preassigned to works that may be selected and cataloged by the Library of Congress for its collections. Final determination of works selected and cataloged is made by selection librarians and recommending officers in compliance with Library of Congress collection development policies upon receipt of the printed book. Please note that while a title may receive a preassigned LCCN, the Library of Congress is under no obligation to provide preliminary or final cataloging information within its catalog for titles that are not ultimately selected for the Library’s permanent collection.
The following books are ineligible:
- Books that are already published.
- Books that do not list a U.S. city as a place of publication on the title page or copyright page.
- Books for which Cataloging in Publication data has been (or will be) requested.
- E-Books (i.e. books published only in electronic format).
- Serials.
- Custom editions.
- Items under 50 pages with the exception of genealogies and children’s literature and exhibition catalogs submitted by museums and art galleries.
- Textbooks below the college level.
- Items not intended for wide distribution to libraries.
- Religious instructional materials.
- Expendable educational materials.
- Transitory or consumable materials.
- Translations except Spanish.
- Mass market paperbacks (pocketbook size).
- Single articles reprinted from periodicals and other serials.
Requesting the LCCN
To request a Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN), log in to your PCN account and select “Request LCCN”
General Information
Enter the general information about the book:
- Book Format
- Book Frequency
- Children’s Book
- Approximate Number of Pages
- Primary Language
- Publication Date
Contributor Information
Enter the basic information about the book’s contributor:
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Contributor Type
Title Page Information
Upload a copy of your title page or complete the following fields:
- Title
- Subtitle
- Edition
- Publisher Name
- City of Publication
- Contributors
Series Information/ISBN
- Series
- Multiple Volumes
- Print ISBNs
- Electronic ISBNs
Book Summary and Additional Information
You can provide a summary of the book and any addtional information you feel would be useful in the cataloging process.
Submit Request
Review the information entered in the previous screens and Submit your request. LCCN requests are generally fulfilled within 72 hours and you will be notified via email when your request has been approved.
Submitting Copies to the Library of Congress
Once you have an LCCN number for your book, you must submit a complimentary copy of the best edition of the book immediately to the Library of Congress at:
Library of Congress
US Programs, Law, and Literature Division
Cataloging in Publication Program
101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
Washington, DC 20540-4283
Continuing participation in the PCN program is contingent on full compliance with this obligation.