Library of Congress Control Number

The Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) is a serially-based system of numbering cataloging records in the Library of Congress in the United States. It has come to be widely used in the libraries across the world for the unique identification of books, documents, and other publications.

Overview

The LCCN system was introduced in 1898 by the Library of Congress, initially to manage its book cataloging system. The purpose of the LCCN is to index the Library's bibliographic records in its catalog and to provide a unique identifier for each entry. This system has been adopted by other libraries and bibliographic agencies, which use it as a tool for cataloging and other administrative purposes.

Format

The format of the LCCN has changed over time. Originally, it was composed of a fixed block of numbers. Since 2001, the structure of the LCCN consists of a prefix, a year, and a serial number. The prefix is usually one to three characters and is often related to the type or location of the item. The year represents the year the record was created, and the serial number is a six-digit number that is sequentially assigned.

Application

LCCNs are used by libraries to track their items and by publishers to coordinate with libraries. An LCCN is assigned to a bibliographic record by the Library of Congress or by another library through a process called "copy cataloging." Once assigned, an LCCN is rarely changed and serves as a permanent identifier for the item in library catalogs.

Importance in Libraries

The LCCN is crucial for the management of library collections, allowing for easy access to catalog records and facilitating the organization of library materials. It also plays a significant role in the interlibrary loan process, as it helps libraries quickly and accurately locate materials.

See Also

• ISBN
• ISSN
• Cataloging