Our PTRC is located in the Science, Technology, and Patents Department on Lower Level 2 of Central Library in downtown Los Angeles. We are among the first PTRCs since the 1870s.
Before we closed for the pandemic on March 14, 2020, our PTRC partnered with the Los Angeles SBA and the non-profit organization, Bet Tzedek, in February to put on a program on intellectual property. A local IP attorney gave a great talk and 23 people attended.
Los Angeles Public Library has been closed to the public since March, but I have continued virtual one-on-one appointments with patent and trademark customers. In May I gave a presentation about the PTRC and IP basics to about 100 librarians and paraprofessionals in the Los Angeles Public Library system. A recording of the presentation is available internally on LAPL’s learning management system.
I worked with one of the library’s Drupal gurus to revamp our PTRC page https://lapl.org/collections-resources/research-guides/intellectual-property
Our department manager and several librarians in the Science, Technology, and Patents Department have been doing Disaster Service Work for the city during the pandemic. So, I took on the job of Acting Senior Librarian in late-June. This role has gotten me more involved with the Makerspace in our department, known as the Octavia Lab.
The Octavia Lab pivoted to 3D printing face shields for hospital workers in Spring 2020. My department made a short documentary about this work called “Too Quiet, Library Workers in a Pandemic” which you can view online at https://youtu.be/Z2j8pIspiHs.
The Octavia Lab through its partnerships with Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, Goodwill Industries, Los Angeles County Department of Aging, City of Baldwin Park and Ethos Giving has now delivered and donated over 24,000 medical grade face shields to 24 Los Angeles area hospitals.
As of now, Los Angeles Public Library is still closed to the public, but we are providing curbside service.
On a very sad note, retired Principal Librarian, Billie Connor Dominguez, who was very involved in our PTRC for many years passed away in January. She always set a high bar for customer service with her positive attitude and tireless work ethic. She will be missed.
Stella Mittelbach assembling face shields July 2020
Face shields assembled at Los Angeles Public Library
Luis Perez and Luci Odono monitoring 3D printers at Los Angeles Public Library