The PTRC in Fondren Library at Rice University has been busy as usual with monthly patent search classes for area inventors taught alternately by Siu Min Yu and Linda Spiro. Siu has also taught a few trademark classes and Linda continues to offer an extension to the basic patent searching class. In May of 2016 Linda helped with the judging at the finals for the Young Inventors Association held at the University of Houston. On March 29, 2017 Linda and Siu are looking forward to presenting intellectual property information to 40 high school entrepreneurial students from Humble ISD, and on March 31, 2017 Linda will present information about patent research to over 100 engineers and technicians in Houston who are seeking new employment opportunities. In February, 2017 Linda also taught librarians and Tech Transfer staff from the University of Houston how to do a classification search.
Linda Spiro with Nancy Linden (UH Science & Engineering Librarian), George Gillespie (UH Technology Transfer Associate), & Lisa Martin (UH Coordinator of Business Research & Outreach)
Our department is also looking forward to celebrating our 50th anniversary as a Federal Depository Library (joined March 23, 1967) and our 40th anniversary as a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (formerly a Patent and Trademark Depository Library) (joined July 28, 1977). Kathy Hart Weimer, department head, also helped organize Data Rescue Houston (https://datarescuehouston.wordpress.com/), a day-long event held in Fondren Library on Saturday, March 4, 2017 with close to 100 participants including Fondren Library staff, Rice University professors, staff and students, librarians and staff from the University of Houston, and interested individuals and organizations from the Houston area.