The Physical and Mathematical Sciences Library is the PTRC for the Pennsylvania State University Libraries which has been part of the program for 31 years. Our primary librarian for patent and trademark information services is John Meier and the Head of the library is Nan Butkovich. Of our additional three full time staff, Megan Folmar has attended the PTDL workshop in the past. Penn State has 22 campuses and at least 3 of them have librarians teaching patent information literacy. Last fall at University Park, the main campus, John taught an exciting new class on Innovation Management that is cross listed in four departments including marketing and engineering. John contributed to the second edition of Using the Engineering Literature on general topics including patents. He also wrote a chapter on patent information literacy for the forthcoming book “The Busy Librarians Guide to Sci/Tech Information Literacy”.
In 2011 we had a number extended research consultations with library users of note. I met a number of times with a team of graduate and undergraduate student who were pursuing a patent application. I provided guidance through the procedures of the USPTO, introduced them to patent searching concepts and strategies, and showed them a number of books in our collections. They came by with their completed application just before going across the street to mail it. I continued my assistance of an emeritus faculty member in his research on a book about Pepper’s Ghost, a magical illusion. I worked with the New York Public library to obtain images of original British and French patents, thanks to Ken Johnson at the NYPL PTRC!