Monday, February 4, 2013

Authors: How to Get Your LCCN (Library of Congress Number)



lccnGet Your LCCN
(Library of Congress Catalog Control Number)

One question that most authors don’t know to ask is, “How do I get the LCCN?” What’s a LCCN? Good question—it’s the Library of Congress number that shows that you exist, and the one that any library that you are pitching your book to wants to know you have.
The good news is that these are free (although going through the two steps to get them can sometimes be a pain in the tush.
Here are your steps:
The LCCN:  The Library of Congress Control NumberIt is free and can be obtained fairly quickly―a week or less― although we’ve received them within just a day or two. You must have your ISBN to get it. Once you have the LCCN, it will cover case bound (hard, paper, eBook)
Beware:  The websites are occasionally updated—changed—so these instructions may also require updating.
It is a two-step process:  
  • Go to Google.
  • Enter: Library of Congress book number and click onSearch.   
  • Preassigned Control Number Program will appearOr go to www.LOC.gov.
  • Click on “Open an Account if appropriate.  Otherwise click on EPCN Login,” for an existing account.
  • If “New Account,” read instructions, and then click on“Application to Participate.
  • There is a note at the top, Click here for Instructions,” for assistance.
  • Fill out and click on “Submit.” Within a few days, no more than a week, you will be e-mailed an account number and a password providing you access to the appropriate application form.   
                  If you have an account already, the “EPCN Login” button brings you to the form requiring your Account ID and Password.  Fill out and click on the “Sign On” button and fill out form.  A final note to those with accounts already: The password expires after 60 days.  A new one can be created using thefollowing instructions.  It must:
  • Be at least eight characters in length;
  • Contain at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, and one number;
  • Not contain consecutive repeated characters;
  • Be recreated following these steps if you wait to use it over 60 days;
  • Not be changed more than once per day;
  • Not be changed to any of the 11 most recently used passwords.
If the password has expired, just write the old one out and write the new one under it, changing just one of the numbers or letters. Keep a record so that you know what has been changed, thus avoiding repeating the old number by chance.

Your LCCN will come to you via email. Print it out. Put in it a Folder for all your Publisher Info. Create a Folder on your computer—put it there as well.

 
Dr. Judith Briles 
The Book Shepherd - The Author and Publishing Expert

Create. Strategize. Develop. Publish. Achieve.
Chief Visionary Officer: AuthorU.org


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