Akron-Summit County Public Library Submitted by: Curtis Bower
New patent Librarian, Chris Schmidt, now also provides PTRC services
The Business and Science Divisions merged over a year ago but this last year, we finished moving the actual division materials which involved many book trucks, books and furniture moving 2 floors down to make up the new Business Government & Science Division.
Our library had a Maker Faire that attracted over 800 people.
Our division hosted a food program called Akron Eats which featured many local and ethnic restaurants and entrepreneurs.
I have become a member of the Patent and Invention Disclosure Committee which coordinates invention policy for Auburn University.
I provided patent training to the members of the Auburn University Tiger Cage competition (think Shark Tank and you have the idea) which allowed me to meet many inventive people on campus. I provided support to the Development office with some patent research that a donor wanted done. I am hoping the person will follow up and we can get deeper into the research.Finally,
University of Vermont Submitted by: Graham Sherriff
PTRC Coordinator Graham Sherriff and Electrical Engineering Faculty Dustin Rand published an article on students’ prior art research in the open access journal Issues in Science & Technology Librarianship.
Graham and UVM Web Services Librarian Molly Rogers conducted usability testing on Google Patents and Patent Public Search with undergraduate Engineering students. Results are due to be published soon in the Journal of the PTRCA.
Chicago Public Library Submitted by: Jean Petersen & Jason Nosek
The Central Library (Harold Washington Library Center) continues to be restructured; this has resulted in a merger of the Business, Science, and Techology Unit with the Government Publications Unit, which includes the PTRC
Due to the pandemic, we have continued to offer socially distanced PTRC assistance through virtual reference (email, chat, phone) and in-person assistance through screen mirroring
Programing has remained paused due to the pandemic and low staffing numbers
Texas A&M University Submitted by: Jared Hoppenfeld & Wade Harris
Please welcome Wade Harris, our newest PTRC rep at Texas A&M (see photo). Although new to PTRC, Wade is the longest-tenured staff member at our Business Library.
Presented to MGMT 632 Technology Commercialization class (invited every semester)
Presented to ITDE 689 Research Lifecycle in Engineering class (new class), included comparing patents and journal articles as types of research dissemination.
Dallas Public Library Submitted by: Kathy Berry & Eddy Hubbard
The online program with Attorney John Baker went great; 14 people total attended and it was very informative.
Eddy and Kathy met with the Small Business Center to discuss potential events to help further access to resources regarding trademarks and small business grants.
Both are currently trimming the patents collection.
The entire month of February has seen an increase of patrons wanting information on patents and trademarks. Eddy and Kathy had one on one sessions regarding what to expect in patrons’ searches and applications.
