For many self-published authors and small publishers, getting their books into libraries can feel like an elusive goal. Public libraries are a lucrative market, but authors are often in the dark regarding why they won’t purchase their work.
The answer is simple: Many self-published authors and small publishers don’t realize that a book must have two things to have any chance of being purchased for a library’s collection:
These elements tell the library where to catalog your book on their shelves and how to list it in their computer systems. Both elements must be included on the copyright page.
Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN)
A Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) is a unique identification number assigned to each book. With it, librarians can locate a specific Library of Congress catalog record in the national databases, such as WorldCat.org.
To be eligible, your book must meet certain criteria. First, your book must be published in the United States. Second, publishers must list the place of publication on the title or copyright page and maintain an office with a phone number that can be reached if there are questions. Authors must list a phone number for the same reason. In addition, whether you’re a publisher or an author, you must send the Library of Congress a copy of your book upon publication for their records.
To apply for an LCCN, set up an account in the Pre-assigned Control Number (PCN) program at https://locexternal.servicenowservices.com/auth. This program enables the Library of Congress to assign a control number for your title prior to your publication date.
Once you submit your application, you should receive your LCCN within a few days or a few weeks at the most.
Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication (PCIP) Data Block
The requirements for getting a Library of Congress CIP Data block are stringent. A publishing company must have published at least three books from different authors, and each of those books must have sold a minimum of 1,000 copies to libraries that appear in the WorldCat.org catalog. Most small publishers don’t meet these requirements. So what to do?
Contact Adrienne Bashista. She is authorized by the Library of Congress to create Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication (PCIP) data blocks for self-published authors and small publishers. Her email address is adriennebashista@gmail.com, and her website is www.cipblock.com. She charges $85 for new customers and $70 for prior customers.
The example below shows the placement of the LCCN and PCIP block on the copyright page.
The Bottom Line
Increase the salability of your book. Include both an LCCN and a PCIP so your work can be sold to libraries. It will cost you a few dollars, but the return you get from more potential sales is well worth it.
