St. Louis, MO

Established in 1870, the Saint Louis Public Library (SLPL) was one of the first twenty-two libraries that were known as a: “Patent and Trademark Depository Library”. Between 1987-1988, Linda Terhune was the 3rd PDL Fellowship Librarian. Carol Giles-Straight, was the 12th Fellowship Librarian from 1996-1997. In 1989, the Saint Louis Public Library received a CASSIS computer as part of a pilot study with the USPTO. This CASSIS computer was located in our Business, Science, and Technology Department in our Central Library until June 2010, when the 1912 Carnegie building was closed for a 70 million dollar restoration and renovation. In February 2010, Carol Giles-Straight retired and Spruce Fraser assumed responsibility for the Patent and Trademark duties for the Library. The CASSIS computer was moved to the Buder Branch for two years while renovations took place at Central. It was moved from the Buder Branch in July 2012 to storage in a SLPL building while Library staff were preparing for the re-opening of the renovated building. On December 9, 2012, the Central Library reopened to the public with 43 reference computers available to access the USPTO , 4 of these are located in the Science &Technology Room, where Spruce Fraser is available to explain the tools of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. On February 9, 2013, Michael Hydorn and Neil Massong presented the seminar: “Patents and Trademarks 101: Get the Information You Need to Protect Your Intellectual Property”. Over one-hundred inventors, entrepreneurs, educators, and legal professionals attended. Attorneys earned 4.1 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits for attending. The Library continues to receive positive comments and thanks for the seminar.