What is an LCCN or Library of Congress Control Number?

Before we explain what an LCCN number is, understand that filing an LCCN for your book is a service we include in every Mill City Press publishing package.

The Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) is a unique identification number that the Library of Congress assigns to titles that it is likely to acquire. An LCCN is not the same as a copyright registration even though both are filed with the Library of Congress.

Librarians use the LCCN to access the associated bibliographic record in the Library of Congress’ database or to obtain information on various book titles in other databases. The LCCN is typically printed on the page in a book’s front matter where the copyright information is printed.  (e.g. “Library of Congress Control Number: 2001012345”).

Only U.S. book publishers are eligible to obtain an LCCN. To receive an LCCN, publishers must list a U.S. place of publication on the title page or copyright page and maintain an editorial office in the country capable of answering substantive bibliographic questions.

LCCNs are applied for prior to publication and once a book is published one copy of the “best edition” of the book must be sent to the Library of Congress.  The “best edition” of a book is the retail paperback or hardcover version of the book.

eBooks are ineligible for an LCCN, even though their print version counterpart may have one.

For more information about the LCCN process, go to http://www.loc.gov/publish/pcn/.