The Paul Laurence Dunbar Library has been a PTRC since 2000. Our PTRC collection is stored in the Information Commons area of the main library. In 2012, we had a nice round number of 495 requests for patent and trademark information through email, telephone, appointments and a few IMs. Class and community presentations were well attended with 305.
Our continued relationship with the Small Business Development Centers in the region is bringing additional patrons to us. I would say half of our walk-ins are being referred to us from the SBDCs. I have given two workshops with Pat Newcomb, director of the region SBDCs, at the main Dayton Metro and their Kettering branch library. Both workshops were well attended. In the near future, we are planning for additional workshops at other regional libraries. I provided 9 workshops during the year. We usually have 10 or more attending. An advanced patent research workshop brought in 17 researchers interested in searching international patents with a heavy dose of Espacenet®. We have seen a spike in the number of patrons and small business doing trademark research and asking for assistance from the PTRC. All of this certainly is a sign that the economy is building up some momentum.
I am continuing to be an advisor to the Veterpreneur Academy here at Wright State. Their students must schedule a one hour appointment to go over IP resources available to them on the internet and at the PTRC. They had 53 students in their past class. The class comprises veterans from WWII to present. It is a federally funded program.
Wright State transitioned to semesters from quarters this past year. All public Universities and Community Colleges in Ohio are now semester schools. Our classroom presentations have increased more than 50%. Most of this increase is from English and Communication courses. I have had two additional engineering classes ask for IP presentations, up from 4.
Our university library continues its transformation to a media resources hub for our students. I enjoyed the comments and resources mentioned on the PTRCA listserv regarding 3-D printing devices. This is something our own library has begun to discuss.
All-in-all, a busy and productive year!