A Motivation

I’d like to begin by sharing a quote a friend sent me from the New York Times: “Research suggests that experiencing art and creativity, even for a few minutes a day, has tangible effects on our mental and physical health. Doing so helps slow cognitive decline, reduces the risk of heart disease and increases well-being as we age. Reading books, for example, is linked with living longer.”

My conclusion? Creativity is a natural resource our brains use to keep us healthy. Additionally, from a spiritual perspective, creativity is our way of connecting with consciousness—or God, whichever you prefer to call it.

In the Mood for Publishing

As I promised last week, today I’m talking about the Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN). What is it? Why do you need it? And where can you get it?

An LCCN is a number you apply for via the Library of Congress website. It is not for sale; it is an application process. Having this number allows your book to be easily found, ordered, and cataloged by libraries (Source: Library of Congress). Both authors and publishers can apply for this number.

A Sad Anecdote

In a conversation with a fellow Hispanic children’s author, I learned that there are people out there scamming new authors. They literally charge five hundred dollars just to submit an application on the Library of Congress website! There is misinformation claiming that authors need legal help to apply for an LCCN.

The truth is: you don’t. I registered both versions of my book, as well as Bec’s (the phantom writer’s book), with no problem. Bec’s application was processed in a week. Mine took a little longer, only because the government was closed at the time.

Why get an LCCN?

If you want your book to be discoverable and easy for libraries to catalog, you need this number.

You can use this link to learn about the program. I advise using the search bar to type in “Preassigned Library of Congress Number (PCN).” Just in case you get lost like I did, here is the link to eligibility.

Essentially, the program is for authors and publishers in the United States. Here is the “fine print”:

LCCNs are preassigned to works that may be selected and cataloged for the Library’s collections. Final determination is made by selection librarians upon receipt of the printed book. Please note that while a title may receive a preassigned LCCN, the Library is under no obligation to provide cataloging if the title is not ultimately selected for the permanent collection.

PCN vs. CIP

The Cataloging in Publication (CIP) program is different. CIP data is prepared prior to publication so the publisher can include it on the copyright page, making processing easy for librarians and dealers. However, this is generally limited to traditional publishers because of the sheer volume of books published every year.

The Alternative: PCIP

You don’t have to wait for an official agency to categorize your book; you can create your own data entry to highlight the topics you find most important.

• Customization: Creating your own entry gives you more control over your book’s discoverability.
• Correct Naming: To avoid confusion with official records, label your entry as Bibliographic Data or Publisher Cataloging-in-Publication (PCIP).
• Expert Assistance: If you’re unsure about formatting, your local librarians can often help you compile the data professionally. (Source: Self-publishing class by Durham Tech, © 2022 Cengage Learning, Inc.)

How to get an LCCN

For self-published authors:

1. Visit the LOC site.
2. Create an account and choose “Request LCCN.”
3. Fill in the requested information and wait for the number to arrive in your email
4. Pro Tip: Copy and paste that number directly to your copyright page to avoid typos!

My ultimate advice: read and re-read the information on the site. Take notes and use AI tools to help you digest the technical jargon. If you feel you need an extra hand, leave a comment or email me at author@anechypadron.com.

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Many thanks

Wow! You made it all the way here. Thank you so much for reading. I hope I was able to shine some light on your self-publishing path. Whether you’re writing to make money or you want to see your books in school and library catalogs as I do, stick around!

Au Revoir!

Next week, I’ll share another secret I learned after I published my book that I wish I’d known sooner. Hint: Audience.

‘Till next time,

Anechy Padron

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