Patent and Trademark Depository Library Association

California

Inventor Association

California

Inventor 3

California

Inventor 4

Inventor Association

Colorado

"The Internet is the vehicle of choice to do patent and trademark searches. In the days before the USPTO had a good web site, inventors in this area could be found milling about the library looking at Gazettes and sitting in front of terminals. Now, I think the Internet has taken over. The USPTO web site provides great search capability. We at the RMIC give each new member a file to download and print on how to do a patent search on the Internet. The search technique we provide our members uses a combination of key word, class and subclass. It is quite effective. Once a member gets comfortable searching with our tutorial, we offer advanced search training using issued class, searched class, and wild-cards combined with key words. Usually, if prior art is present it can be found back to 1790 using our tutorial and the advanced search capability of the USPTO site. We also coach inventors on how to use the WIPO and foreign patent search sites when appropriate."

Inventor 5

Inventor Association

Florida

"The PTDL is not something to which Southwest Floridians have easy access so the Internet has drawn more attention for searches. Patent attorneys are still relied upon for this service, too. It seems everyone keeps getting busier and busier even at play. People are motivated to cram as much in a day as possible. If the challenges of using the PTDL appear intimidating, then people look for other avenues relying on others or paying for services. That is an area the might be expanded. Being able to call up and request professional services at the PTDL. The liability issue might inhibit this unless services are spelled out."

Inventor Association

Georgia

"While quite a few members in the Inventor Associates of Georgia (IAG) do preliminary patent literature searches on-line, many still visit Ms. Joanne Tobin at the Atlanta PTDL to get her assistance with top-notch searches by current U.S. Classification. While it’s rare that you might ever catch Ms. Tobin when she’s not busy, Joanne always finds time to help. I for one am grateful for her assistance to our members, sending those ‘budding’ inventors to the IAG and for all her help with the Patent Workshop last year at the USPTO library. Even though the on-line searches are available, the personalized preliminary search by librarians like Joanne is much better. I hope she will continue to take an interest in our group so that we may continue to make improvements."

Inventor 7

Inventor Association

Minnesota

"The Minneapolis PTDL does get used but probably not as effective for the mom & pop inventors we see. They offer a 1-hour FREE class on patent searching and what the system is basically about - with handouts. IF, and that's a big IF, the inventors grasp what they're supposed to do, all the materials, journals, etc., is at their disposal. The PTDL is very useful for those searching higher technology. But those who create that technology are Internet savvy and get the information faster that way. In our current state budget crunch, we most likely will be losing our Minnesota Technology agency, which hosts our monthly meetings. Certain staff working with inventors at another state agency located in the northern Minnesota iron range have just lost their positions. In other words, everyone is getting hit. Elimination of the PTDL's may seem like a crisis in the making but innovation in accessing the PTO with Internet technology can work out as a plus. The real issue is educating the mom & pop inventors (I'm in that group) about the patent system, what it is, its importance and how it fits into the inventing process. Teach them how to search on their own and/or have professionals available to do it for them at an affordable price."

Inventor 8

Small Business Development Center

Mississippi

"The Mississippi Patent and Trademark Depository Library in Jackson provides a real resource for inventors. The librarians are most helpful in getting the new inventors started on their search since many have no idea how to do a search. I refer inventors to them and they refer them to me for more information. We complement each other. Just yesterday I talked to an inventor, gave him contact info for the library and he called back in a couple of hours to say that he found a patent that covered what he was working on. He had Internet access but with only modem access, doing a patent search takes forever due to slow download times for the large graphic files. In rural areas, the phone lines are generally the limiting factor on download speed and many people are lucky to get 28.8 download even though they have a 56k modem. We also have 4 satellite patent libraries scattered across the state which provide easy access to most all Mississippians and the librarians are most helpful to the inventors. I think the PTDLs will be needed in rural areas for quite a long time due to the slowness of most peoples Internet download times. Broadband access is still not available in most smaller towns and rural areas and is quite expensive."

Inventor 9

Inventor Association

Mississippi

"I will be glad to give you some input on the PTD library located in Jackson, MS., Mississippi Library Commission. We Love It! We love it so much, we know the workers by name, Velma and Indira. We have had three Invention Conventions over the last 4 years in different parts of the state of Mississippi and all three times they have been invited and participated with a booth and lots of material for the inventor. They make themselves very accessible to us and we do all that we can to promote their service. Using the Internet for searchers is great, you can do it on your own time, but I firmly believe that it needs to be coupled with a search at the PTD library. It's like both sides of the search coin."

Inventor 10

Montana

"I have never consulted with an inventor who has used the one in our state. It is located in Butte, which is relatively central given the vast spaces of Montana. The head librarian has a very favorable reputation as being helpful to the facility visitors. However, with the accessibility of search options and on-line databases, there is little incentive to trek to the PTDL for research. Times be a-changing! Like many government services, PTDL needs to shift its role to suit the changing times and to justify its survival. They need to connect with the public through some good marketing efforts. I have no doubt that inventors and researchers would profit from interacting with the very high quality of librarian services provided. For the most part, people just don't know about the PTDL and/or what services are available. Efforts such as offering space and promoting workshops and meetings would be examples of possible marketing efforts. I work under contract with the MT State Dept of Commerce doing small business counseling for the SBIR outreach office. That office and others related to economic development frequently offer statewide technology and inventors workshops, SBIR training, and other meetings. I don't recall any of the workshops or seminars being located in Butte or at the PTDL located there. Interesting idea for us to explore!"

Inventor Association

Nevada

"It's not about how the Internet has affected the PTDL. It's about the needs of the American inventor community and how the PTO is addressing those needs. Inventors will always strive to improve his or her technology. So whether or not an inventor is computer literate, or has access to the Internet, has little to do with their ability to create. One personal contact at a PTDL has the power to nurture that creativity at any level of innovation -- especially for those shy inventors who need it most."

"For example, in our town the PTDL librarian, Pat Ragains, on his own time, gives a full seminar lecture to our inventors' group, on Saturdays, because that's the day we meet. It is not for his convenience, but ours. That sort of unselfish individual outreach effort is the heart of what the PTDL has meant to inventors in the past, and must continue for our future. There is no substitute."

"Two other important comparisons of the value of a PTDL over Internet searches, at least in the opinion of this inventor, are:

1. Researching references cited in relevant patents is much faster and more certain in The Official Gazettes than on the PTO web search site, due to the quick judgement call opportunity created by viewing an abstract and image together.

2. A library atmosphere is far more conducive to concentration than the distractions at home.

3. Personal contact at a PTDL broadens public awareness of local resources and practitioners."

Inventor 12

Inventor Association

Ohio

"Our group works closely with our PTDL. The Library provides us with a free room for our monthly meetings, so members and attendees can use the library prior to meetings. One of the librarians gives a short talk at the start of each meeting to inform newcomers about services offered. They also bring in relevant books and other materials for attendees to browse. The librarians have been very active in helping the Council grow and develop. They pass our brochures to people who come to them for help, and encourage these people to attend our meetings. They have found speakers for us, and even helped to promote speakers through their channels. While I don't use the specific services very often, I know of a number of people in our group do. But, to answer your question more directly ... for the Inventors' Council of Cincinnati, it's not only the depository services that are valuable to us, it's the knowledge, commitment and enthusiasm of the librarians in the department. While some of our members are directly benefiting from the depository, we are all benefiting from the energy and thought these special people have put into helping inventors and our organization."

Inventor 13

Inventor Association

Oklahoma

It seems to me that the role of the PTDL is changing as a result of the Internet. As long as there are inventors without Internet access, the services of the PTDL will continue to be needed. However, being able to conduct preliminary patent searches by Internet undoubtedly has cut into the foot traffic for their services. However searches are conducted, there will always be a need for instruction on how to conduct both patent and trademark searches. The instruction and information normally provided for foot traffic must now be provided via a web page. The need hasn't disappeared; it has just changed form. As for reduction in need for localized PTDL's, there will always be a need for them. While the basic services may be similar, each one can provide either a list of patent professionals within their state, or a link to another web site with such information. We have one that lists the areas of specialty for each, along with name, address, etc., and that's valuable. ANY resources that are available to the inventor locally should be listed on the PTDL web page. A link to the national fraud center is a must. We are fortunate in having the Inventors' Assistance Service in Oklahoma that does this, but it can be performed by the PTDL in other areas just as well. The role of the PTDL in the future should include that of being a facilitator for networking of groups and resources relating to the invention process. While patents may be their key function, most people inquiring about patents coming to them are in the earliest stages of the invention process, and need all the credible guidance they can get to keep from winding up squandering their time, energy, and resources. There are many services along this line that can be provided by the PTDL in assuring that the [beginning] inventor gets off to a good start."

Inventor 14

Oklahoma

" When I started in '98, the Patent and Trademark Library at OSU Stillwater was very helpful. Started with classification and then output numerous Patent No's. to review. The books on the shelf were interesting and helpful. The copying on site and then later upon fax request was helpful. The Internet and recent availability of classification and graphics access makes the search via the Internet much easier."

Inventor Association

Texas

"It is our experience with the inventors we know through the inventors organization and our website that the libraries are falling pretty much into disuse. Most people are so busy and many are not physically close to the libraries, so they prefer to search on the Internet. Speaking for ourselves, it has been a huge boon, having the database available from our home computers. We find ourselves in the patent and trademark databases regularly for our own searches and also accessing information for answering questions we receive from inventors."

"The library still has a place with inventors who do not use the Internet or those who cannot figure out how to use the USPTO database. The librarians at the PTDL's are noted for being very knowledgeable and helpful. We have a special friend at the Dallas library, Rob Martindale, who has been kind enough to become involved with our organization and attends meetings just to be a valuable resource even when he is not a guest speaker."

Inventor Association

Wisconsin

"I used to go to the PTDL in Milwaukee. Since the online service is available, I have not been there. I still suggest people to check it out though. It is really quite something to experience. I tell people to use the online service frequently. It is a valuable resource."