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Patent and Trademark Resource Center Association

Patent and Trademark Resource Center Association

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  • Esther Crawford PTRCA Distinguished Service Award (DSA)
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PTRCA 2022 Journal

PTRC News for 2022

Akron, OH

Akron-Summit County Public Library
Submitted by: Curtis Bower

  • In July we switched many of our programs from virtual using Zoom back to in-person
  • We held monthly Patent Searching and general IP classes
  • We held quarterly sessions of Ask-a-Patent Attorney, where people could register for a free one-on-one session with a registered Patent Attorney

  • We continued to host monthly meetings of the Akron Inventors Club at Main Library
  • We have a new patent Librarian,
  •  Continue reading

Amherst, MA

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Submitted by: Paulina Borrego

  • Connecting the plant patent space to the Mass Aggie Seed Library
  • Continuing outreach to the community for the patent database InnovationQ
  • Patent Coloring Book exercise as a way to teach patent searching in classes
  • Connecting with national seed growers about the intellectual property of seeds

Ann Arbor, MI

The University of Michigan
Submitted by: Leena Lalwani

  • Ann Arbor has been a PTRC since 1983
  • Located in Art, Architecture & Engineering Library of University of Michigan
  • Engineering Librarians: Leena Lalwani (Rep), Paul Grochowski, Jamie Niehof& Joanna Thielen
  • Due to uncertainty of Covid-19 and our ever changing schedule, we have not done any programs this past year.
  • We have been setting up appointments for consultations by Zoom using LibCal.

Atlanta, GA

Georgia Tech Library
Submitted by: Lisha Li

  • USPTO Summer IP Series at Georgia Tech (online), Summer 2021 (Eastern Regional Outreach Office; 623 Participants)
  • Virtual & limited in-person consultations
  • IP webinar series, Spring 2022

  • Patent lectures for credit courses:TI:GER Program, Emory Law, Oct. 2021
  • Introduction to IP, Fall 2021
  • ECE Research Method, Feb. 2022
  • Judging for Capstone Design Expo, Fall 2021
  • Information Associate Interns: Fall 2021 –present
    • Worked on special projects,
  •  Continue reading

Auburn, AL

Auburn University
Submitted by: Andrew Wohrley

  • We are very grateful to see the new Patent Public Search get rolled out.
  • Auburn University is embracing innovation and inventors at all levels. The library is beginning an Innovation & Research Commons that combines a MakerSpace, Audio Visual Equipment, recording and video studio, and augmented reality lab that researchers on campus are utilizing.
  • The Auburn Research and Technology foundation is providing facilities to attract inventors and entrepreneurs to Auburn.
  •  Continue reading

Austin, TX

University of Texas –Austin
Submitted by: Larayne Dallas

  • PTRC library location re-opened on August 23, 2021 in a “new normal” arrangement.
  • This was after a closure of approximately 17 months and another closure in January.
  • Library hours appear to be permanently reduced over years past.
  • We continue to offer service over Zoom, e-mail, and phone.
  • Staff is formally unchanged but we keep a group of co-workers informed of PTRC and USPTO news; they are our support network.
  •  Continue reading

Burlington, VT

University of Vermont
Submitted by: Graham Sherriff

  • The UVM PTRC resumed in-person assistance in Fall 2021 and shelved the large backlog of plant patents that had accumulated during remote-only service in 2020-2021.
  • We overhauled our website information describing the UVM PTRC’s services and resources and redesigned our research guide on patent and trademark searching.
  • UVM PTRC Coordinator Graham Sherriff and Electrical Engineering Faculty Dustin Rand successfully submitted an article on students’ prior art searching to the open access journal Issues in Science &
  •  Continue reading

Cheyenne, WY

Wyoming State Library
Submitted by: Anne Kuipers

  • Karen Kitchens retired in early 2021 and Anne Kuipers, State Documents Librarian, has taken over her duties as the Wyoming PTRC rep.
  • This year has been spent getting Anne settled and informed on her duties, alongside strengthening ties to other organizations, like the Wyoming Small Business Development Center.

Chicago, IL

Chicago Public LIbrary
Submitted by: Jean Petersen

  • We continued to stay open to the public during 2021, despite the many challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • As part of the continued restructuring of the Chicago Public Library Harold Washington Library Center, the Business/Science/Technology Unit was combined with Government Publications Department to become the Business/Science/Technology and Government Unit.
  • As a PTRC we continued to provide reference services to patrons through email, telephone, and socially distanced in-person interactions.
  •  Continue reading

College Park, MD

University of Maryland
Submitted by: Jim Miller

  • Plant Patents Image Database https://digital.lib.umd.edu/plantpatents
  • Browse Plant Patents:
    • PP Color Images increased from 15,000 to 28,245
  • Project History and Credits:
    • Includes a Visualization Project section with a link to the PP data visualization beta site “portal” created by GIS and Spatial Data Librarian Milan Budhatthoki

College Station, TX

Texas A&M University
Submitted by: Jared Hoppenfeld

  • Had a co-authored article (with Patrick Griffis) published in Reference Services Reviewtitled “Considerations of Providing Patent and Trademark Assistance Services at One’s Library”
  • Presented to library staff and faculty about PTRC web content review
  • Presented about PTRC at a Texas A&M Innovation Partners workshop

Dallas, TX

Dallas Public Library
Submitted by: Kathy Berry

  • After a pandemic related 2-year construction period, the 6th floor of the J. Erik Jonsson Library is now open for PTRC activities.
  • Programs allowing in-person events are being scheduled again with the public.
  • The Texas Regional Office has been in touch to establish programming.

Davenport, IA

Davenport Public Library
Submitted by: Bill Fuhr

  • Iowa’s 175thAnniversary Celebration was in Fall 2021
  • Purchased an UltimakerS5 3D printer for our makerspace grand opening in April 2022
  • Also in April, we will be launching our Seed Library

Dayton, OH

Wright State University
Submitted by: Ran Raider

  • Campus opened to in-person classes
  • PTRC able to meet face to face with patrons in appointment room
  • Trademark requests outnumbered patent requests (mainly home-based businesses)
  • First in-person workshop was held on trademarks and had 6 attendees
  • One virtual patent workshop had 22 attendees
  • Presented to 5 senior capstone design classes (Mechanical Engineering)
  • New University Librarian Karen Wilhoit
  • Mask mandate lifted 3/3/22
  •  Continue reading

Denver, CO

Denver Public Library
Submitted by: Brooke Jennings

  • Focusing on our one-on-one appointment services for our patent and trademark customers.
  • Presented a tutorial and overview of the PTRC for our local government documents organization, GOPIG.
  • Training new PTRC librarians!

Detroit, MI

Detroit Public Library
Submitted by: Mary Kordyban

  • PTRC Reference maintained throughout pandemic. Services were moved to the Social Science, Education and Religion Department, as most of our building is not open
  • Program: DPL Business Author Series, Warren Tuttle, Author of Inventor Confidential, The Honest Guide to Profitable Inventing
  • Monthly meetings: Inventors Association of Metro Detroit and Inventors Council of Mid-Michigan
  • We’ve learned that our PTRC customers don’t like to have reference questions over Zoom. They prefer phone or in-person service.
  •  Continue reading

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  • Our Mission
  • Best Practices
  • Bylaws
  • Officers
  • Committees
  • PTRCA Journal
  • Resolutions
  • Esther Crawford PTRCA Distinguished Service Award (DSA)
  • Online Resources
  • Contact PTRCA

PTRCA Journal

Volume 32 (2022)

PTRCA Officers

President's Report
Treasurer's Report


Executive Committee Resolutions:
None


Minutes from 2021 Seminar:
Annual Business Meeting (PDF)
Executive Council Meeting (PDF)

2022 Journal Articles

    News Feeds from PTRC Librarians

    • Sensory Marks II
    • Rice's First Patent

    Latest additions to the Directory of American Tool and Machinery Patents (DATAMP)

    • US Patent: 381,525
    • US Patent: 154,518
    • CA Patent: 17,886
    • US Patent: 280,241
    • US Patent: 254,692

    • Our Mission
    • Best Practices
    • Bylaws
    • Officers
    • Committees
    • PTRCA Journal
    • Resolutions
    • Esther Crawford PTRCA Distinguished Service Award (DSA)
    • Online Resources
    • Contact PTRCA