Upcoming Patent and Trademark program at the Arkansas State Library

The Arkansas State Library and Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC) are teaming up to host a free all-day program PATENTS and TRADEMARKS: GET THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY on August 7 at the Arkansas State Library.

Speakers from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will provide an introduction to intellectual property protection and explain how to effectively conduct preliminary patent and trademark searches. The program will also cover how to avoid invention promotion scams and how to conduct patent searching on PubWEST, a time-saving patent database portal.

The workshop will provide a basic level introduction to patents and trademarks for inventors, entrepreneurs, legal professionals and anyone else interested in knowing more about the vital world of intellectual property protection.

The program will be held at the Arkansas State Library's Bessie Moore Conference Room on 2nd floor of 900 W. Capitol in Little Rock from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required. Register online at the ASBTDC's web site, http://tinyurl.com/3rggxvb.

The Arkansas State Library is one of a network of select libraries nationwide that are designed by the USPTO as Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRC). The Arkansas State Library is the only PTRC in Arkansas. For more information, contact Michael Strickland at 501-682-2053.

The Arkansas State Library provides the resources, services, and leadership necessary to meet the educational, informational, and cultural needs of the citizens of Arkansas, and provides guidance and support for the development of local public libraries and library services. For more information on the Arkansas State Library, visit www.library.arkansas.gov

The ASBTDC is a university-based economic development program which provides assistance to small businesses throughout Arkansas via a statewide network. The ASBTDC offers a variety of services to assist entrepreneurs at various stages of business development and growth.

Patents and Trademarks at the Arkansas State Library

It has been quite a while since I mentioned one of the more important services available here at the Arkansas State Library: Patent and Trademark assistance. We are designated a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). As a PTRC, the Arkansas State Library offers access to the following materials and services:

• Backfile Collections and Current Issues of Patents
• Official Gazette - Patents
• Official Gazette - Trademarks
• Reference Assistance and Referrals
• Patent Classification Research Instruction
• Supplemental Reference Materials
• Training Opportunities

While we do not file patent or trademark applications for you, and we cannot actually do any searches for you, we can show you where to go and the steps you will need to follow to file. We can also show you how to conduct a patent or trademark search (an essential step of filing for a patent or trademark), and provide additional resources to help you along your way. For any specific questions, you can call the library and ask to speak with a reference librarian (501-682-2053) or fill out an Ask a Librarian request.

Patent Office in the News

There is an interesting article in the New York Times today about the United States Patent Office and the new director's attempts to modernize and speed up the patent process. If you are interested, you can read the article here.

The Arkansas State Library is a Patent and Trademark Depository Library, and we offer inventors and businesses assistance in starting the patent or trademark process. We cannot help you to do the requisite patent or trademark searches, but we can show you the basics of the process and provide resources that try to demystify the process. If you have questions about the patent or trademark process, please get in contact with our reference staff. You can call us at (501) 682-2053, use the Ask a Librarian email form on our website, or come visit us in person, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.

If you want to get started with the process or just want more information about the Patent and Trademark Office, you can visit their website and click on the appropriate section.

Patents and Trademarks at ASL

The Arkansas State Library is designated a Patent and Trademark Depository Library (PTDL) by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). As a PTDL, The Arkansas State Library offers access to the following materials and services:

• Backfile Collections and Current Issues of Patents
• Official Gazette - Patents
• Official Gazette - Trademarks
• Reference Assistance and Referrals
• Patent Classification Research Instruction
• Supplemental Reference Materials
• Training Opportunities

While we do not file patent or trademark applications for you, and we cannot actually do any searches for you, we can show you where to go and the steps you will need to follow to file. We can also show you how to conduct a patent or trademark search (an essential step of filing for a patent or trademark), and provide additional resources to help you along your way. For any specific questions, you can call the library and ask to speak with a reference librarian (501-682-2053) or fill out an Ask a Librarian request.