The Wyoming State Library (WSL) became a PTRC in 2005. I am the sole staff member within the PTRC, and additionally manage the Federal Depository Library Program here at WSL. We are the only PTRC in the state and consequently, serve the entire population of Wyoming. Our state population is approximately 544,000. As a consequence, the majority of my service is distance (phone and email) versus one-on-one interactions here at WSL.
This past year, WSL is a host site for the Midwest Regional USPTO quarterly Lunch and Learn series. This series is an interactive question and answer session with various USPTO personnel for both patents and trademarks. During these virtual meetings, participants are able to have their questions answered directly by USPTO personnel in Alexandria.
I continue to participate at Wyoming Senator Enzi’s Annual Inventors Conference. This conference is hosted by Senator Enzi and brings information about the patent process and procurement opportunities to Wyoming inventors and entrepreneurs. Senator Enzi’s Inventors Conference was held on Oct 21, in Torrington WY. Here is the link to the info on Enzi’s website with info https://www.enzi.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/small-business-and-inventor-info . I have attached a photo of Sen Enzi with a conference attendee Britnee Tonille by the Wyoming State Library PTRC table at the conference. Britnee won a copy of Bill Sniffin’s “Wyoming at 125” for which I held a drawing.
Prior to the conference, the Wyoming State Library welcomed visitors from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Rocky Mountain Regional Office in Denver. Molly Kocialski, Director of the USPTO Rocky Mountain Region Office in Denver, and Rebecca Fritchman, Outreach Adviser, stopped by to see the WSL’s PTRC as well as the rest of the library. Director Kocialski expressed here deep appreciation for the PTRC program and WSL in particular.
Since this visit, WSL PTRC has a four day outreach trip with the Denver USPTO office in February 2018. PTRC staff will be joining USPTO staff in attending the 2018 Wyoming Small Business Development Office GRO-Biz Conference in Rock Springs, WY; present at the Entrepreneurship Speaker Seminar at the University Of Wyoming College Of Business in Laramie, WY.
