If you are self-publishing a book, you will need to get an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) to uniquely identify the product. You can buy an ISBN through a number of services like Amazon, Bowker, CreateSpace, IngramSpark, etc., or they may be obtained directly from your country’s library association.
Once you have obtained an ISBN, you can apply for a Library of Congress Control number (LCCN). You will need to visit or contact the Library of Congress’ Copyright Office and provide information about your self-published work, including your title, publisher, author name, ISBN, and other details. You can also fill in the online application form available on the Library of Congress website. The processing time for LCCN applications varies, so you may have to consult with the Library of Congress directly for specific processing times.
Once your application is approved, you will receive a “receipt of assignment” from the Library of Congress’ Copyright Office. This will include the LCCN assigned to your self-published book, which should then be used in all citations and referencing of the title.
Getting an LCCN is not a requirement for self-publishing, however it is worth considering if you want to make your work accessible to libraries, help indexers identify and classify your book, or establish the authority of your title via Library of Congress assignments.
