The Paul Laurence Dunbar Library has been a PTRC since 2000. Our PTRC collection is located in the Reference area of the main library. Access to PubWEST and PubEAST is through the reference desk. We established a PTRC only workstation area for more privacy.
In 2017, we had 360 requests for intellectual property information through email, telephone, and appointments. Community presentations had 34 attendees. My campus class numbers jumped again this year to 459 students!
The PTRC is still a popular referral for the local SBDCs and the Business Department of the Dayton Metro Library. A new contact was established with the “Advocates for Basic Legal Equality.” The Advocates offer free legal help for all matters related to small businesses in the Latino Community but also accept any low income individuals who need legal advice. They assist with basic business formation help, tax issues, contracts and employee relations. I continue to participate in The Honorable Judge Walter Rice federal program working with “restored citizens.” Judge Rice program offers an entrepreneurship fair and boot camp for recently released federal prisoners. I also work with the local women’s prison small business programs.
Wright State University is in fiscal crisis. The university must meet certain budget remediation goals to avoid a State of Ohio takeover of university management. We are not even close to accomplishing those goals. There is a federal investigations over the university’s H1B VISA program. The US Department of Education required the university to pay a settlement for $2 million for its handling of federal student aid. It is a mess.
We have had to cut back on all library programs to meet an ever decreasing library budget. We lost 50% of our staff over the last two years. Since there is a hiring freeze, when people leave the library for greener pastures those left behind have to pick up the slack. This places a burden on PTRC outreach and continuing education opportunities. I have reduced the number of public workshops offered from 12 a year to 6. I continue, though, with one on one meetings with PTRC clients. As with most budget cuts, we do what we can with what we have! It has been a very interesting year.
– Ran Raider – PTRC Representative since 2000