2024 - Patent and Trademark Resource Center Association

Macomb, IL

Western Illinois University
Submitted by: Michael Lorenzo

In the October session of the class, I gave out chocolate for first correct answers to a trademark quiz I conducted in the class.
I assembled trademarks similar to the ones that you used to give out, but added some newer companies.
I made a PowerPoint Slideshow with each slide being a different trademark and the owner of the hand that went up first after I showed the slide, got to guess.

University of Wisconsin - Madison
Submitted by: Dave Bloom

Collaborated with UW researchers on new plant breeding patent resource for USDA Seed Liasion initiative.
Extended patent instructional support in UW’s undergraduate BiomedicalEngineering program.
Tabled a Round Robin for UW Extension staff.
Virtually met with USPTO Website Improvement Group, voiced critiques,expressed sympathy for the tasks they have ahead.

University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
Submitted by: Gladys Lopez

In collaboration with the USPTO Eastern Regional Office and the White House Joining Forces Initiative, we presented our services to military spouses.
For her knowledge of intellectual property—recognized across Puerto Rico and beyond—and the dedication she brings to educating her community have made her a “pillar of the innovation and entrepreneur ecosystem in Puerto Rico.”
The Mayaguez PTRC librarian was recognized with the “I Love My Librarian Award“.

Miami-Dade Public Library System
Submitted by: Shana Hinze

Mary Garcia and I presented children’s books about innovation and inventions.
We spoke about the PTRC and the Intellectual Property Girl Scout Badge from USPTO.
We also had USPTO inventor cards, activity sheets and coloring sheets.

Mary Garcia and Shana Hinze

Coloring books on innovations.

Shana Hinze

Minneapolis Central Public Library
Submitted by: Melissa Marts

Our Library has started promoting the USPTO’s events on our public library’s website along with in-person workshops.

PTRC display.

West Virginia University
Submitted by: Terra Rogerson

Staff changes: Marian Armour-Gemmen retired after more than 20 years of service to West Virginia University Libraries. We are sad to see her go.
Terra Rogerson and Martin Dunlap will now both be doing Patent and Trademark work in her stead.

Cooperative efforts with the USPTO Regionals, Small Business Development Centers, inventor groups, etc. We continue to work with WVU’s Launch Lab for student entrepreneurs, and IGNITEWV a competition for inventors in the state,

New York Public Library
Submitted by: Peter Bengston

We continue to meet with patent and trademark researchers primarily online which has been the case over the past four years.
I also regularly give my Introduction to Patents and Introduction to Trademarks classes virtually which are always well attended with many questions from the audience.
On March 21, the Commissioner for Patents, Vaishali Udupa, visited the Thomas Yoseloff Business Center where she was interviewed by Brian Fried, the founder of the National Inventor Club.

Newark Public Library
Submitted by: Keegan Fletcher

We have hired a new director in 2023, his name is Christian Zasbriskie.
NPL partnered with the USPTO on a four-week Introduction to Intellectual Property
series to the public in September 2023.
- NPL promoted PTRC services at the Newark Business Symposium in March 2024.

South Carolina State University
Submitted by: Doris Johnson-Felder

Doris Johnson-Felder in front
of Miller F. Whittaker Library

University of Central Florida
Submitted by: Missy Murphey

Cohosted online presentation, “Increase your IP IQ: What every business owner and startup needs to know about intellectual property,” 9/7/23:
- Presented by Elizabeth Dougherty, Eastern Regional Outreach Director, USPTO.
- Hosted by UCF for the Florida statewide consortium of Blackstone launchpads.
UCF Startup Festival, 9/27/23:
- Staffed UCF Libraries/PTRC table with UCF business librarian Min Tong.
- 500-600 attendees.
Served on a virtual Patent Panel sponsored by the UCF Blackstone Launchpad,

University of Maine
Submitted by: John Hutchinson

I gave some well-attended remote presentations in conjunction with SCORE, a business mentoring organization which is a resource partner with the Small Business Administration.
I also gave a presentation at the Maine Library Association annual meeting about patents and patent searching. This summer, I will be giving a presentation at the annual meeting about the new Trademark search system.
Here in the library, I did a fun display of summer-related patents with an accompanying video slideshow that we uploaded to YouTube.

The Free Library of Philadelphia
Submitted by: Raymond Wang

What’s your favorite thing about being a PTRC librarian and what makes the position unique in Philly’s business and nonprofit community?
- My favorite thing is free access to the numerous amounts of legal resources such as patent pro-bono program for entrepreneurs, small business owners and inventors. We are also in close proximity to the Franklin Institute, which is a renowned institution known to inspire curiosity through science and technology.
- Historically,

State of Arizona Research Library
Submitted by: Emma Stoltenberg and Myrrh Morningstar

We have welcomed Emma Stoltenberg and Myrrh Morningstar as our new representatives.
This past year, we presented to the Buckeye Entrepreneurship Outreach Network, a program dedicated to providing meetups, workshops, and resource for innovative individuals.
In addition, we also participated in an “IP Strategy is a Business Strategy” presentation with the Arizona Small Business Development Center Network to share our resources and how to get connected with our PTRC.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Submitted by: Paul Corriere

I am the interim PTRC representative, as Irene Yelovich went to a different job, still with Carnegie, a month ago.
We also changed director a month ago to Mr. Andrew Medlar.