The Paul Laurence Dunbar Library has been a PTRC since 2000. Our PTRC collection is located in the Information Commons area of the main library. Access to PubWEST and PubEAST is through the Information Commons reference desk. A small collection of hard copy materials are available adjacent the “patent workstations.” This collection is mainly bound plant patents and various indexes.
In 2015, we had 749 requests for intellectual property information through email, telephone, and appointments. Community presentations were well attended by 139 individuals. My campus class numbers jumped this year to 243 students! This number counted for two additional senior design class lectures.
Last year I was asked to provide a patent workshop for the Wright Brothers Institute’s Business Collider and the Entrepreneur Center. The Business Collider is an incubator for SBIR companies in commercializing Air Force technologies. There were 27 attendees. The PTRC workshops are still a popular referral for the local SBDCs. I am now working with the Springfield, Ohio SBDC in providing clients with patent and trademark information. I have also been assisting the local SCORE chapter in updating it business guide for intellectual property resources and will present in March at one of their board meetings.
I receive many questions regarding copyrights and permissions. I have designed a brochure to help students and faculty identify permission organizations by creative activity. One unique aspect was taken from the International Federation of Reproduction Rights web site. It suggests using the “Find-A-Grave” web site for hard to find authors. Cemetery records can assist in finding next of kin.
We are still without a University Librarian, year 3. A change in provost may help in this regard.
Ran Raider – PTRC Representative since 2000