If you plan to sell your book in libraries, you'll need an LCCN (Library of Congress Catalog Number). You can order your own through the web site of the Cataloging in Publication Division of the Library of Congress. *Remember, your book must be longer than 50 pages to qualify for an LCCN, so many children's books and others do not apply.
*The Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) is a unique identification number that the Library of Congress assigns to titles most likely to be acquired by the Library of Congress.
*Librarians use the LCCN to access the associated bibliographic record in the Library of Congress's database or to obtain information on various book titles in other databases.
*The publisher prints the LCCN on the back of the title page in the following manner: "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 that is capable of answering substantive bibliographic questions.
*There is a $35.00 charge for GP to register your title for you. As the publisher, we must complete the registration form as well as send 2 copies of the finished book for which the LCCN was pre-assigned. Books published in electronic form are ineligible for an LCCN.
*Should you wish to obtain an LCCN on your own, the first step is to complete the Application to Participate and obtain an account number and password, which takes one to two weeks. The application is online at Application for LCCN.
