Tag: LCCN

From the Mail Room: LCCNs for New Editions

mail-room-author-emails-office-899351_960_720A reader sent in this question:

I am leaving my publisher and going indie with my debut book. I’ve a new ISBN and imprint. Can I use the same LCCN number?

Here’s the answer from our awesome team of authors:

Your current LCCN number will stay with your publisher’s edition, even if it is out-of-print. That means it’ll be cataloged in the LOC (Library of Congress) under your old publisher, and if it’s out of print, that’s not going to help you with libraries, stores, etc. With a change of publisher (including you as the publisher), you will need a new LCCN. Just remember, you can only get an LCCN prior to a book’s publication – and if it’s a new edition (2nd, 3rd, etc.), you can apply for a LCCN.

Here is a link you may find helpful: https://www.loc.gov/publish/cip/techinfo/reprinteditions.html

Have a question? Email us.

Self-Publishers May Want to Try For Library of Congress Cataloging

Library of CongressYou’re a self-published author, and someone has suggested you get yourself an LCCN. You’ve never heard of an LCCN and are wondering if maybe you need to find out more. Well, this is your stop. We’re talking LCCNs today.

First off, what are they? LCCN stands for Library of Congress Control Number. It’s a unique identifier issued by the Library of Congress (LOC) to books that get included in their collection. Some people desire this number because librarians across the nation and the world tend to catalog their books using the LCCN number. There is only one LCCN per book, whereas each edition of a book requires a new ISBN (eBook, paperback, hardback, special editions), and will likely have multiple ISBNs.

If it sounds appealing, how do you get one? Continue reading “Self-Publishers May Want to Try For Library of Congress Cataloging”