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.

Fourth of July!

Here are some interesting facts about the July 4th holiday from the Census Bureau's Facts for Features.

• In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation was 2.5 million.
• The nation's estimated population on this July Fourth is 313.9 million!
• $232.3 million: The value of fireworks imported from China in 2011, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($223.4 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $15.8 million in 2011, with Australia purchasing more than any other country ($4.5 million). Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www> <http://www.usatradeonline.gov>
• 6: Number of states in which the value of broiler chicken production was estimated at $1 billion or greater between December 2010 and November 2011. There is a good chance that one of these states — Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi or Texas — is the source of your barbecued chicken. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/PoulProdVa/PoulProdVa-04-26-2012.pdf>

Although most of Arkansas is under burn restrictions and fireworks bans due to the extremely dry conditions, many cities around the state are still holding Fourth of July fireworks displays. For more information about cities near you, check out this list.

The Arkansas State Library will be closed on July 4th in celebration of the holiday. Normal hours will resume on Thursday July 5th. Any reference questions sent after the close of business on July 3rd will be answered as soon as possible on the 5th.

Stay cool out there!

Summer has truly arrived in Central Arkansas, with temperatures predicted to be about 100 for the next few days. Extreme heat can be deadly, especially for vulnerable members of the population, such as the elderly, disabled and young children; according to the National Weather Service, it is the number one weather-related killer in the country. For tips on how to cope with the heat and how to recognize the various forms of heat distress, check out the CDC Extreme Heat guide.

If you are in Little Rock and the surrounding areas, the city will be opening cooling centers for citizens to come in and cool off. The Salvation Army is also opening a cooling center at 1111 Markham in downtown Little Rock.

Libraries are also a good place to go to escape the heat, and find something to read while you rest inside. To find a public library location near you, check out the Central Arkansas Library's web page. The Arkansas State Library is open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM, we are air conditioned, and we have books about cold places to help you think cool thoughts.

Job-seeking resources at ASL

The Arkansas State Library has developed several online resource lists on the RAISE section of the website to help job-seekers. RAISE stands for Resource Assistance in Seeking Employment. The two pages that I would like to highlight here are the Job Links page and the ASL Resources page.

The Job Links page lists websites of recruitment websites for state and national jobs, many of which also include other resources for job seekers. It includes several links specifically for veterans, as well as two for librarians.

The ASL Resources page contains lists of print and electronic resources available through the library to help job seekers improve their resumes, prepare for tests, and conduct efficient job searches. It is only a partial list, so be sure to check our catalog or contact our reference staff for more information.

Reference! Services!

Time once again for your semi-regular reminder about the reference services available at the Arkansas State Library.  While our primary mission is to serve state agencies and state employees, we are ready and willing to answer questions from the general public, public librarians, school teachers, college students, high school students, and everyone in between. If we can't find the answer in our databases and print collections, we will do our best to find someone who does have the answer.  You can contact us by phone during office hours at (501) 682-2053, or any time by using our handy Ask a Librarian form, or by writing us at:

Arkansas State Library, Attn. Reference
900 West Capitol, Suite 100
Little Rock, AR 72201

Please include a reliable way to reach you; if you have email but only check it once a month, make sure we also have a phone number and/or mailing address.

If you prefer, you can also come to the library and speak to us in person.  Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.  If you would like a patent search tutorial, you might want to call ahead and make an appointment, otherwise, please feel free to just drop by.

We generally answer questions within 24 hours, except during weekends and holidays.There are no fees for asking a question, nor do we charge for obituary searches.

Get Cultured

There are many great cultural events happening in and around Little Rock this month. Here are just a few, with links to more information:

• The Arkansas Repertory Theatre, also known as The Rep, is getting ready for its final play of the season, A Loss of Roses by William Inge. Shows run June 15th through July 1st.
• The Weekend Theater is presenting the musical Spring Awakening, June 8th through July 1st.
• And, nearest to this librarian's heart, the 2012 season of the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre opens tonight with an outdoor performance of Twelfth Night at the Village at Hendrix in Conway. The festival runs throughout the month of June, with performances of Twelfth Night - both in Conway and at Wildwood Park - Richard III, and a musical adaptation of Huck Finn, Big River. There is also a children's version of The Tempest on the schedule. All UCA students, faculty, and staff are allowed one free ticket with a valid UCA ID.

Secretary of State Historical Report

I know, not the most interesting title for a blog post, but hear me out. This report is one of the more interesting state government and state history resources we have available here at the library. Complied by the State Capitol Historian, this book has short essays about the history of Arkansas, information about various state officials (as of 2008, the last time it was revised), and complete rosters of all the legislatures going back to the first Territorial General Assembly in 1819. The report also has the historical roster for the Arkansas Courts, and rosters of all the various county officials for all of the counties. But wait, there is more! There are also Arkansas vote tallies for the presidential elections going back to 1836, as well as gubernatorial and U.S. legislative elections.

And the best part? The report is available, for free download or order, to everyone. While we would love to have you come use the report here at the library, we realize that is not always possible. So, if your interest has been peaked, visit the Secretary of State's web page, and start browsing the Historical Report!