Library of Congress PCN Program
The Library of Congress PCN Program is a free U.S. service for authors and self-publishers that assigns a Library of Congress Control Number before a print book is published.
Visit Library of Congress PCN Program
At a glance
- Price
- Free (No fee, but a copy of each published book must be sent to the Library of Congress.)
- Platforms
- Web
- Outputs KDP-ready files
- Not stated
- Touches your KDP account
- Not stated
- Categories
- ISBN, Copyright & Trademark
- Last checked
- 2026-11-09
Summary
Through the PCN Program, U.S. authors and self-publishers request a Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) in PrePub Book Link before publication and print it on the copyright page, which helps libraries catalog the book. It is free, but you must send the Library a copy of the book as soon as it is published. Only forthcoming print books with a U.S. place of publication qualify; eBook-only titles and already published books do not. An LCCN is not copyright registration and does not guarantee the book enters the Library's collection.
Best for
- U.S. self-publishers who want their print book to be library-ready
Pros
- Free and run by the Library of Congress
- Makes a print book easier for U.S. libraries to catalog
Cons
- Must be requested before publication; published books are ineligible
- U.S. publishers only, print books only, and many categories such as items under 50 pages are excluded
Alternatives
- U.S. Copyright Office: The U.S. Copyright Office is the government registry where authors register copyrights and look up existing registrations.
Sources
Facts on this page come from the vendor and these pages. Prices change; confirm on the vendor site.
- https://www.loc.gov/programs/preassigned-control-number/frequently-asked-questions/
- https://www.loc.gov/programs/preassigned-control-number/about-this-program/scope/
- https://www.loc.gov/programs/preassigned-control-number/about-this-program/eligibility/
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