Should I include an accession number in my works-cited-list entry?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook. For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook.

MLA style does not currently require accession numbers in works-cited-list entries. One difficulty is that what they are called and how they function vary by database vendor. If you elect to include an accession number in an entry, place it in the “Location” element.