Library Visibility
The library system in the U.S. is a vast and wonderful thing, encompassing well over 100,000 separate public, academic, government and school facilities.
The good news for them is that the Library of Congress has a special numbering scheme - a "Pre-Assigned Control Number" - just for libraries to make it easier to locate existing books and discover new ones.
Lulu's Library Visibility service offers a way to have your books show up in this library-only database - so you can make some noise in the library world, and make sure you're seen by the people in charge of selecting titles and making purchases.
For authors publishing in the United States, this means that libraries will have easy and direct access to bibliographic information about your books without having to wade through other, broader databases.
You are eligible to participate in this program if:
- Your book is still in the pre-publishing stage (recommended)
- You live in the U.S. OR your title has the Published by Lulu distribution package
- Your book is at least 50 pages
Services include:
- Sending you a pre-assigned control number for your book
Lulu will submit the application and email you your PCN once it is assigned. After the application is submitted, it can take 3-5 days for the PCN to be assigned. Once the PCN is assigned, you will insert the number on your copyright page in the following fashion:
Library of Congress Control Number: 2004012345
Upon publication, you must send a copy of the book to this address:
Library of Congress
Cataloging in Publication Division
101 Independence Ave SE
Washington, DC 20540-4320This last step is imperative. If the Library of Congress is unable to review a copy, a LOC listing will not be created.
PLEASE NOTE:
The assignment of a PCN does not automatically create a record with the Library of Congress. It is still subject to review by the Library of Congress. If they decide not to retain the book in their collection, a catalog record will not be created.
- Listing in the library-only database
After purchasing the service, Lulu will send you instructions on how to proceed.
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