The Role of the Patent and Trademark Librarian in the Digital Age Karen Stanley Grigg North Carolina State University Libraries

The changing digital world requires Patent and Trademark Depository Librarians to serve new ways roles in providing access to patent and trademark services and collections.

Presentation Topics  Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program (PTDLP)  Stakeholders  Time and Location- Independent Services and Collections  Evaluation of USPTO searching tools  Changing Roles of the Patent and Trademark Librarian

What is the PTDLP?  PTDLP launched in  Purpose- to decentralize patent and trademark information.  Originally 22 libraries, now 4 times that amount.  Half of PTDLs are public, half academic.

Who are the stakeholders?  Faculty As inventors As instructors  Students As inventors As scholars  Extension Community  General Public

Evolution of USPTO Searching Tools  Print tools until  CASSIS system launched in  USPTO web site launched in  CASSIS concurrently maintained along with Web database.

Traditional Service Model  Undistributed.  Not time and location- independent.  In academic library, main focus on external patrons.  Little time left to promote patent and trademark information to internal patrons.

Can we apply distance learning model to PTDLP?  Universities showing growing commitment to time and location-independent services.  This model is successful with students- why not use with services to outside patrons?  Geographical separation of patrons from PTDL.

Independent inventor a good candidate to be a distance learner  Inventors autonomous and self-directed.  Number of Americans with internet access increasing dramatically.  Home computer users have high expectations of what the Web can deliver.

Evaluation of USPTO Searching Tools  By 2000, the USPTO added all U.S. patent images back to However… full text searchability limited. TIFF format used- requires separate plug-in. prints one page at a time.  USPTO is maintaining upkeep for two separate search systems.  CASSIS interface difficult to use and unavailable remotely.

Changing Roles of Librarians in Digital Environment  New roles emerging: Technological Liaison Curriculum Advisor Trainer Advocate for patrons to the USPTO

Technological Liaison  Creation of matrix that identifies questions that can and cannot be answered remotely.  Creation of support tools web sites multimedia tutorials  Partnership with USPTO to enhance search tools and collections.

Examples of helpful tools Patent Search Tutorial and Information - University of Texas tutorial/index.htm NCSU Libraries: North Carolina’s Patent and Depository Library Partner.

Curriculum Advisor  Partnerships with: Instruction librarians Relevant departments and faculty  Curriculum- integrated instruction model allows for building these skills into the curriculum.

Role as Trainer  Decentralized service model requires greater competencies of all reference staff.  Tiered service model.

Tiered Service Model  Three tiers: First tier should be required of all reference staff. Second tier will be distributed to “backups”. The third tier - patent and trademark subject specialist.  Begins with understanding of two types of patent questions- known and unknown….

Known Patent Questions  Patron is looking for something believed to exist.  Known Patent Questions are often easiest for beginners. Some examples:  “My great-grandfather invented a widget in the 1920s or 1930s and I am trying to find a record of the patent.”  “This journal article references US Patent number 5,146,634 and I need a copy of the patent.”  “I am trying to print a list of all the trademarks held by Ocean Spray Corporation.”

Unknown Patent Questions  Usually exist when researching the uniqueness of invention or trademark and searching for prior art.  Challenges: Complexity- must use classification system. Legal issues- cannot give any legal advice. Unlike most searches, goal is to NOT find results.

Development of Tiered Service Model

Competencies, all Reference Staff (Tier One) The ability to…  Conduct the reference interview;  Assist patrons with basic known patent and trademark questions; and  Identify and assist patentability patrons.

Tier Two Reference Staff  All of the competencies expected of Tier One Reference Staff plus: The ability to:  Use print indexes for more complex questions;  Handle patrons with more challenging patentability questions; and  Assist when reference staff are overwhelmed by other desk traffic.

Patent and Trademark Librarian  All of the competencies expected of Tier One and Tier Two Reference Staff plus: The ability to:  Handle difficult reference questions that Tier One or Tier Two Reference Staff have not been able to answer.  Provide reference training.

Patent and Trademark Librarian, cont.  Integrate patent and trademark instruction into the curriculum where appropriate;  Maintain patent and trademark collections;  Administer the duties the USPTO requires of PTDLs; and  Serve as an advocate to the USPTO for patron needs.

Advocate for Patrons to the USPTO  Communication with USPTO about patron needs. CASSIS- still necessary? Full text availability. Navigability of USPTO web.

Reference Assistance to the Technologically Challenged  USPTO withdrawing many paper tools.  Must strategize on providing services to technologically challenged.  Staffing issues… Referral often necessary.

Conclusion  Using distance learning model is completely in line with mission and values of the PTDLP.  New service model allows patent librarians to serve new and more valuable roles.  Ultimately, the long-term goal of both the USPTO and the PTDL should be to work towards creating systems that are convenient and easily accessible to all Americans from the privacy of their own homes or closest public libraries.