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Considerations of providing patent and trademark assistance services at one's library

Patrick Griffis (University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA)
Jared Hoppenfeld (Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA)

Reference Services Review

ISSN: 0090-7324

Article publication date: 19 November 2021

Issue publication date: 8 December 2021

352

Abstract

Purpose

The authors' goal in writing this article was to provide background information and detailed considerations to assist those wishing to provide patent and trademark assistance at their libraries. The major considerations include staffing, spaces and resources, with the time commitment from the staff being the most significant.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper combined the experiences of an author relatively new to patent and trademark librarianship with one who has years of experience. These were used in tandem with knowledge gained from a decade of attendance at annual week-long seminars at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as well as by way of a comprehensive literature review.

Findings

The main commitment needed in providing patent and trademark services to the public is not money but the investment of time, which includes professional development, staffing, teaching classes and workshops, outreach and consultations.

Originality/value

The information in this paper should serve as guidance to anyone new to providing patent and trademark services within their libraries, including those at Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRCs), Patent Information Centres (PATLIBs) and beyond. Although articles have been published on various aspects of intellectual property (IP) and libraries, a comprehensive guide to providing patent and trademark services has yet to be published.

Keywords

Citation

Griffis, P. and Hoppenfeld, J. (2021), "Considerations of providing patent and trademark assistance services at one's library", Reference Services Review, Vol. 49 No. 3/4, pp. 302-310. https://doi.org/10.1108/RSR-05-2021-0019

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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