Director Kappos in a recent post on his blog site was discussing how “reaching out” provides positive results. He went on to point out that “collaboration works. It transfers knowledge quickly, adds value, leads to sharing of best practices.” It struck me that collaboration is one of the key foundations of the Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program that we often take for granted. Time and again we observe how the sharing of information by the member libraries of this Program benefits the collective whole. Even though some of you are going through difficult times with reduced hours and furlough days you have continued to make the extra effort to reach out. For instance, just recently my request for statistical information brought a generous response. My thanks to each and every one of you for all of the sharing and reaching out that you have done this year –for each other, your patrons, and for the Program office.

To help with our staffing this year, the PTDL Program received terrific assistance from two USPTO employees, Alyson Dill, a librarian from the Scientific and Technical Information Center, and Natalie Polzer, a Trademark examining attorney. Natalie’s time with us was limited to six months and she has since gone back to her Trademark Office, although we hope to continue utilizing her experience in various ways. We thank Natalie for all of the assistance she provided the PTDLs by sharing her trademark expertise answering questions and instructing new representatives. Alyson Dill will be with us for a few more months and is very busy keeping the ALLPTDLs and PTDL Office accounts running.

Office resources provided for a limited number of trips and Michael Hydorn, Doug Salser and Tom Turner were able to present public programs and library staff training at: University of Maryland, College Park; Birmingham Public Library; and Pennsylvania State University. PTDLP staff exhibited and promoted the resources of the PTDLs here in Washington, D.C. at the Special Libraries Association in June, 2009 and the American Association of Law Libraries in July, 2009.

A grand opening for the Fairfield, Connecticut PTDL located at Sacred Heart University took place on October 26, 2009. Tom Turner and Michael Hydorn presented a one day workshop for the public on “Researching Patent and Trademark Information”. PTDL representative Rachel Gaither insured that the opening ceremonies were well attended and that there was press coverage to start our newest PTDL off with a bang.

In response to a request from the Government Printing Office Federal Depository Library Program to provide a presentation for OPAL (Online Programming for All Libraries) both Tom Turner and Natalie Polzer presented “Trademarks: What Every Librarian Should Know” in December 2009. There were a number of PTDLs that participated in this online training.

We continued to be busy behind the scenes here at USPTO. We assisted in answering questions for the website Independent Inventor’s chats and provided speakers for the Global Intellectual Property Academy. In addition, we presented at the Institute on Federal Library Resources hosted by the Catholic University of America.

As you all know after careful consideration we concluded that our current staffing situation prevented us from holding the 33rd Annual PTDL Training Seminar in April as originally scheduled. For the moment this is being considered a postponement and our plan is to look at a fall time frame for a reschedule. However we are interested in hearing your ideas for alternative training and appreciate the input we have received to date. We will keep you posted as decisions are made.

AND the really great news is that we have finally unboxed and have settled into our new digs. All of you that have moved, are moving, or are planning to move can relate to what a wonderful feeling that is. I would like to invite anyone who comes to the Washington, D.C. area to drop in and say hi. Remember that with a little advanced notice we are always happy to provide some one-on-one training for you.

Chris Kitchens
PTDLP Manager