Out of the Fire and into the Frying Pan - Hope for Patent Reference Service in a Non-Patent Depository Library

Abstract

The Patent Depository Library (PDL) system is a valuable program which provides important patent collections and services at many locations across the country. Not all of those interested in patent information can travel to a PDL, and reference staff at other libraries often feel uneasy in dispensing patent information. The article suggests that many types of patent inquiries can be ad.. dressed with a small investment in time, materials, and training. Delineates four different levels of service, and discusses the means for deciding which is appropriate to a given library. Describes malerials and staff training for each of the levels. introduces advanced service options and discusses several patron types and their possible needs. Integrating a patent reference service component into an existing reference sewlce provides a number of benefits: information to the community, better public relations for the library, and an opportunity for staff development.The Patent Depository Library system has grown from twenty-two to the present sixty-five libraries during the past twelve years. Although the goal of providing full service public access to patents and patenting information in all fifty stales has not yet been achieved, forty-one states and the District of Columbia are now served by at least one Patent Depository Library, or PDL. The patent depositories provide valuable collections and services, reaching an estimated 240,000 people each year. Because not everyone needing patent information lives within convenient driving distance of a PDL, sooner or later, nearly anyone working a general refer-Dena Rae Thomas is Science/Enpineerinn Librarian and Patent Dewsitorv Library Representative ar the centennk Scienk and Engineering ~i b r h .

Research Support Services in STEM Libraries: A Scoping Review

“…Five articles that described a patent service in libraries serving STEM disciplines were identified (Thomas 1991;Zhang 2009;Feng & Zhao 2015;Irvin 2018;Zhang & Peng 2018).…”

“…With their educational roles, STEM librarians are well suited to incorporate patent searching in their instructional and reference efforts and highlight these underutilized resources of scientific contributions (Thomas 1991;Zhang 2009;Irvin 2018). The University of Saskatchewan developed a systematic patent training program based on the analysis of citation patterns of all the patents granted to the university (Zhang 2009).…”

“…The team-based patent service offered at the Nanjing Technology University Library provided a detailed description of the planning, development, and implementation of this program (Feng & Zhao 2015). Another service model is the four-tiered patents service that could be easily integrated into the regular reference service activities (Thomas 1991). Recognizing different types of users and their information needs offered professional development opportunities for early-career librarians to deepen their subject expertise in the patents field (Thomas 1991;Zhang & Peng 2018).…”

“…Another service model is the four-tiered patents service that could be easily integrated into the regular reference service activities (Thomas 1991). Recognizing different types of users and their information needs offered professional development opportunities for early-career librarians to deepen their subject expertise in the patents field (Thomas 1991;Zhang & Peng 2018).…”

“…Patent service evaluations differ across studies. Two studies measured success through users' appreciations and anecdotal evidence (Thomas 1991) and highlighted several benefits such as professional development opportunity for library staff and increased visibility of the library. In another study, a bibliometric analysis of an institution's patents was used to inform, enhance, and target a patent searching training program (Zhang 2009).…”