Launching Your Book: Get Your LCCN | Assign a Library of Congress Number To Your Book

[@1MKWilliams]

Here is my updated step-by-step tutorial on how to request your LCCN from the Library of Congress: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5OlhK2klqyYfpo

[@WinnieLavery]

can you back through and change publication date in bowker

[@1MKWilliams]

@@WinnieLavery yes

[@hg2.]

2nd watching. Very good to have the sequence these items explained. Thank you.

[@1MKWilliams]

You're welcome! Glad I can help 😸

[@carlottataylor]

Thank you. Great video. This is helpful, I am just hoping I can get mine back as quick as you did....

[@1MKWilliams]

Thank you, I'm glad that you enjoyed the video. I'll cross my fingers for you to get the response quickly. What kind of book are you publishing?

[@WinnieLavery]

after you've completely published your book, is getting your LLCN something you can do at a later date? or do you need to do it while publishing?

[@1MKWilliams]

I suggest doing it prior to publication so it can be on the copyright page

[@grandma.p]

Helpful info.

[@1MKWilliams]

Glad you found this information helpful!

[@mercedesaug]

Hi, I applied for an LCCN on 7/28. Will they notify me when my request is completed, or do I have to keep checking the LOC website? The current status is "Open." Thanks for everything. You have kept me from going insane during the self-publishing process.

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Mercedy, so glad I can help. Yes, you will receive an email once the LCCN is assigned. You also should have received an email confirming the application went through. If the status is open then you're all set but maybe check to see if the confirmation email is on spam so you don't miss the final email when they assign the number.

[@mercedesaug]

@@1MKWilliams Yes, I received a confirmation...and I guess I should have figured they would send me an email when the LCCN is assigned. So many ways to mess up, I am overly cautious. Love you!

[@WinnieLavery]

do you need a lccn for different formats? I have a lccn for hardbacks, do I need to request another for softbound?

[@1MKWilliams]

No it's one per book not format, however all associated ISBNs for the different formats are part of the lccn application

[@clarissacastillo-ramsey3993]

Thank you! SO helpful. I got stuck with the ISBN, LCCN piece! This might be a silly question...I have my book designed and done. I am going through Amazon/KDP to publish. I’m making an assumption I will need to incorporate LLCN information into the book copy. In other words, the publisher doesn’t do that for the author, correct?

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Clarissa, yes you will need to include your ISBN and LCCN number on your copyright page. Are you working with a publisher or self-publishing? If you are working with a publisher, they should know to have this on your copyright page. If you are self-publishing, you can easily find templates online with the all rights reserved disclaimers and other standard text. Best of luck on your journey!

[@clarissacastillo-ramsey3993]

MK Williams I am self-publishing. Thanks for the tip to search text for copyright page. As simple as that sounds, I didn’t even think to do that. Super helpful!

[@1MKWilliams]

@@clarissacastillo-ramsey3993 Great! I'm so glad that helped :)

[@richandabynum5159]

hello, this was so helpful. I have a question , if you get your lccn number for one book but it's the first in a series, does the lccn apply to all the book in the series or do you have to get a new lccn for each book?

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Richanda, The LCCN is specific to the book so you will need one for the first book in the series, book number two in the series, etc. Best of luck!

[@AshleyBDavis]

Thank you for your quick responses! When applying for the LCCN, do you know if there is a requirement to use legal name or would applying with my penname be ok? If there is information somewhere I can look up that you have run across, I'd take a point in the right direction at this point. :)

[@AshleyBDavis]

Ah, never mind, just found the answer on your updated video!

[@1MKWilliams]

Yay! Glad you found the answer!

[@audreywolski8555]

Hi I just bought you “Author your Ambition” which you refer to this video. Im a little confused as to how we handle our personal name, pen name, llc name for the lccn and if the name I used on Bowker to purchase the ISBNs needs to be added as well since its different than the personal, pen and llc. Please help

[@1MKWilliams]

You can use your pen name or llc name for the lccn and when setting up bowker. you don't need an llc to have a pen name. I hope that helps.

[@acbeyond]

Hello M.K Williams, I have some questions, I notice on some publishers on line , they said that we need a CIP data Blocker, is it mandatory and what is it?, plus where do we start if we needed, copyright,ISBN,LCCN,CIP data block ? thank you.

[@1MKWilliams]

Hello, I've been publishing for 5 years now and I've not come across any CIP Data Blocker, I would need to research it more. Getting started, I would recommend getting your ISBNs first. Have those assigned and then apply for your LCCN. I did a new video that shows the updated process for both that you can review here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5OlhK2klqyYfpo . As for the copyright, in the US you are already protected. But you need to have a copyright page right at the front of your book. And if you plan to register your copyright it should only be done through this link: www.copyright.gov/registration/ the official US Copyright Registration Office. The fee is $65. I usually complete the registration the day the book is released as part of my launch-day process. I hope this helps as you get your book ready to go out into the world! - MK

[@acbeyond]

@@1MKWilliams wow thank you so much 😊

[@juliacrescenzi1289]

Hello I just applied for my ISBN through publishing services, just a question can I do all of the library of congress and extra jazz after I publish my book?

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Julia, Okay so I have a question back for you based on what you just mentioned. So, which publishing service did you apply for an ISBN through? In the US, Bowker is the only service that can sell this to an author. These numbers are non-transferable so if an individual is trying to selling you their ISBNs - RUN! Some countries like Canada and the UK provide ISBNs for free. Feel free to shoot me an email or direct message if you have questions or concerns over where you are applying for your ISBN. The actual question that you asked: yes, you can apply for your LCN after you publish the book, however you will need to go back into the manuscript and update the copyright page with the LCN number. Most self-publishing and POD services allow for this so you'll be able to do make that change. - MK

[@juliacrescenzi1289]

@@1MKWilliams wow thank you for your help. I did buy ISBNs off a place called Publisher Services and then they said I could register them into Bowker so I did. So basically is this website a scam?

[@1MKWilliams]

@@juliacrescenzi1289 shoot me an email with a screenshot of the website. Bowker's website has very clear branding, I'll be better able to help confirm once I see what you see. 1mkwilliamsauthor at Gmail dot com.

[@mariahutchison6578]

Hi!! What is the difference between “library of Congress cataloging-in-publication data available” vs “Library of Congress Control Number: “ in your copyrights page?

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Marie, I think the distinction you're referring to is the actual Library of Congress number which is a string of digits that you can apply for at no cost that is used to identify your book. The CIP Data Block (CIP = cataloging-in-publication) is a set of information that CAN also go on your copyright page, not a requirement, that provides metadata on the book categories to aid in shelving. I plan to do a video on that specific item soon. Best of luck!

[@mariahutchison6578]

@@1MKWilliams is placing my Library of Congress number ok to put on copyright page? Thank you!

[@mariahutchison6578]

*I do have this Number as I applied for it!

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes! Okay to put there, I usually have it one line before the isbn

[@mariahutchison6578]

Thank you so so much!!!

[@truthboundpublishing]

So if you are republishing someone else's work, do i need an lccn?

[@1MKWilliams]

Well first you need permission to publish their work in the form of a contract to transfer copyright or it needs to be in the public domain.

[@truthboundpublishing]

@@1MKWilliams it is in the public domain. Im thinking it would not require an lccn, correct?

[@angeliquestarkey]

So I need to ask a question so I wrote a poem book I sent everything back up in July and August so the book company applied for the Library of Congress for my book but now this is the end of January and they said they're still waiting on Library of Congress so they've been waiting on Library Congress since the 1st of November how long does it usually take

[@1MKWilliams]

Hmm that is very odd. Usually the Library of Congress takes max 6 weeks (they did take much longer in the spring of 2020 for... reasons). Is this company you hired referring to the copyright registration? Because that can take months and months to complete.

[@angeliquestarkey]

@@1MKWilliams okay I think I understand now through Gotham books is poem book that I wrote I sent him everything in August they said they would have my book done by the middle of October and then they said the end of December and now they said the end of January now they're saying is taking a little longer because Library of Congress so that's why I asked it is a poem book has 356 poems in it so I was just wondering is that why it was taking so long is because I have so many

[@angeliquestarkey]

@@1MKWilliams oh yes and they might be talking about the copyright registration

[@angeliquestarkey]

@@1MKWilliams how long does the copyright registration cake

[@angeliquestarkey]

@@1MKWilliams sometimes my voice to text does not come out right what I meant to say is how long does the copyright registration usually take