Definition
The Library of Congress Control Number is a standard identifier created by the Library of Congress for items that may or may not be added to the Library of Congress catalog. The LCCN should match the item in hand if it is present in the record.
Indicators & Subfields #
| 1st Indicator | 2nd Indicator | Subfields |
|---|---|---|
| # (blank) = Undefined | # (blank) = Undefined | $a = LC control number $z = Canceled/invalid control number |
Entry #
For post-2000 publications, enter the LCCN as it appears on the item in hand. They may be found on the T.P. verso of the item. The first four digits are the year of publication, and the last six digits refer to the serial number.
=010 \\$a2023011433
Pre-2001 LCCNs only used two digits for the year, and left a six character space for the serial number. If the serial number did not reach the six digit maximum, a hyphen would be used to signify a “blank”.
=010 \\$a97-39059
In MARC, the hyphen is dropped and a zero replaces the number of remaining characters to reach the six digit serial number. In this example, a single 0 allows the serial number to reach its six digit max.
=010 \\$a97039059
Allowed Variations #
The LCCN (010) should match if present in the record. If it is not, but your item has one, it doesn’t mean it is not a match! If all other fields match your item in hand, consider it a match.
Punctuation #
The 010 does not end in terminal punctuation.