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Program Preassigned Control Number

Frequently Asked Questions

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How does the Preassigned Control Number (PCN) Program relate to Copyright?

There is no relationship between the PCN Program and Copyright registration. The principal intention of copyright records is to document the intellectual or creative ownership of a work. The principal intention of the PCN Program is to assign Library of Congress Control Numbers (LCCNs) in advance of publication to those titles that the Library may add to its collections. When printed in the book, the LCCN facilitates access to the bibliographic record for that book and thereby expedites book processing by libraries and book dealers who obtain copies of the book.

Separate deposits are required to fulfill either mandatory deposit (Section 407) or copyright registration (Section 408) of US Copyright Law.

The mailing address of the Copyright Office is:

Library of Congress
Copyright Office
101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20559
Phone: (202) 707-3000
Email: copyinfo@loc.gov

How much does it cost to obtain a Preassigned Control Number (PCN)?

There is no charge for a Preassigned Control Number (PCN). However, all PCN participants are obligated to send a copy of all books for which a Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) was provided immediately upon publication. PCN Participants failing to meet this obligation may be suspended from the program. Please note that all books submitted to the Library of Congress in compliance with the PCN Program are property of the Library of Congress and therefore are not returnable.

Where do I send a copy of the book for which a Preassigned Control Number (PCN) was provided?

Library of Congress
U.S. Programs, Law, and Literature Division
Cataloging in Publication Program
101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20540-4283

How can I get cataloging for a book which is already published?

All works submitted to the Copyright Office to meet copyright obligations are also reviewed by Library of Congress selection librarians. Works selected for addition to the Library's collections are assigned a cataloging priority and cataloged according to that priority. The Library does not provide current status reports for individual works processed in this manner. The Library of Congress catalog, however, can be searched for works that the Library has cataloged. Publishers should also consider working with a professional librarian at a local library to obtain cataloging.

What is the difference between the Cataloging in Publication (CIP) Program and the PCN Program?

The Cataloging in Publication Program creates a fully cataloged bibliographic record for forthcoming books most likely to be widely acquired by U.S. libraries. The bibliographic record, in condensed form (also known as a CIP Data Block), is sent to the publisher and printed on the verso of the title page. A machine-readable version of the record is also distributed to libraries, book dealers, and bibliographic networks worldwide via the Library's Cataloging Distribution Service (CDS). This program is only open to publishers who meet the listed criteria.

The Preassigned Control Number (PCN) Program assigns a Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) to titles most likely to be acquired by the Library of Congress as well as some other categories of books. The author or publisher prints the LCCN in the book and thereby facilitates cataloging and other book processing activities for libraries and book sellers who obtain copies of the book. An initial bibliographic record is also created by the PPBL system for these works when the number is assigned. This record is not distributed and is not printed in the book. The PCN Program is open to a larger range of authors and publishers. The CIP Program and PCN Program are mutually exclusive, titles processed in one program are not eligible to be processed in the other program.

What is the difference between a Library of Congress Control Number and a Preassigned Control Number?

The Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) is the number associated with the bibliographic record created by the Library of Congress or another library for a given book. Strictly speaking, the LCCN is the control number for the bibliographic record, not the book. Published works are assigned an LCCN during the cataloging process, if they have been selected for addition to the Library of Congress' collections.

A Preassigned Control Number (PCN) is a Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) which has been "preassigned" to a given work prior to the work's publication via the CIP or PCN Programs. A publisher of an eligible work may obtain a pre-assigned LCCN if the work has not yet been published.

Are Library of Congress Control Numbers created for all books submitted to the Library of Congress as part of the Preassigned Control Number Program?

Yes. A brief bibliographic record is created for all books submitted through the PCN Program. The records of titles published by authors and vanity presses are usually suppressed from the online catalog, however. If the book is selected to be added to the Library of Congress' collections, the brief record will be unsuppressed and fully cataloged.

How long does it take to create a PrePub Book Link account?

Most PCN account approvals take place within 10 business days.

How long does it take to obtain a Library of Congress Control Number?

Most LCCN requests are processed in one to two weeks. Publishers should submit applications well in advance of publication, however, to allow for periods of heavy work load that prolong processing time.

What is an International Standard Book Number (ISBN)?

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a number that uniquely identifies books and book like products published internationally. The hardcover version should have a different ISBN than the softcover. A corrected printing should have a different ISBN than the original. An e-book version should likewise have a different number. ISBNs are in no way related to Library of Congress Control Numbers and are only related to Preassigned Control Number (PCN) data to the extent that if an initial bibliographic control record is created for the book to which the PCN assigned, the initial bibliographic control record will include an ISBN(s) if the publisher has provided this information when requesting the PCN.

Please note that the international standard is the 13-digit ISBN. Effective May 20, 2019, the PCN Program will no longer accept a 10-digit ISBN.

How do I get an ISBN?

The U.S. ISBN Agency (not the Library of Congress) is responsible for the assignment of ISBNs to publishers resident in the U.S. and who publish titles in the U.S. The U.S. ISBN agency address is:

R. R. Bowker (U.S. ISBN Agency)
630 Central Ave.
New Providence, NJ 07974-1154
Phone: (877) 310-7333
Email: info@bowker.com

What is an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)?

The International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is a standard 8-digit number that uniquely identifies any serial publication independently of place of publication, language, frequency, or medium. The ISSN is in no way related to a Preassigned Control Number (PCN).

How do I get an ISSN?

The U.S. ISSN agency is responsible for assigning ISSN to serials issued by publishers resident in the U.S. who publish serials in the U.S. The ISSN Section is located at the Library of Congress and can be contacted at the following address:

Library of Congress
ISSN Section
U.S. Programs, Law, and Literature Division
101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20540-4284
Phone: (202) 707-6586