The Detroit Public Library has been a PTRC since 1871. It is currently housed in the Business, Science and Technology Department of the Main Library. In recent years we have been promoting our business resources alongside of our PTRC services. This is to be able to help the inventor to market his/her invention, or to help emerging businesses to obtain trademarks, as well to assist with business information.
In 2015 we have been working together with our Parkman Branch to become a Small Business Development Center. The USPTO Great Lakes Regional Office (formerly known as the USPTO Detroit Satellite Office) reached out to Parkman in order to teach patent classes in the neighborhood. This program has been very successful. Once this program was launched, the Office expanded its program to all of the PTRCs in the Great Lakes region.
We continue to be involved with local inventor groups. I serve on the boards of the Inventors Association of Metro Detroit, and the Inventors Council of Mid Michigan. The Michigan Inventors Coalition is an umbrella organization that coordinates inventor groups across the state of Michigan. Each year they organize the Michigan Inventor’s Expo in Lansing, MI. The Detroit Public Library had an information table in the vendor area. We sometimes receive calls from other areas of the state, and refer them to a PTRC that is closer.
The Detroit Public Library is very proud to be a part of the city’s efforts to revitalize the business community and to encourage innovation.