2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The fundamental purpose of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is to foster innovation competitiveness, and job growth by recognizing and securing intellectual property rights, through the delivery of high-quality and timely patent and trademark examination and review proceedings. Then, the Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) Program is a network of academic, public and state libraries designated by USPTO to assist independent inventors and small businesses while navigating the application process (USPTO, 2025).

This paper describes the efforts of a team of business, science and engineering librarians affiliated to a PTRC within a public university, to develop collaborations with public libraries and government agencies that support small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to provide them with access to information resources related to intellectual property protection, as a means to extend those services mainly provided only to faculty, students, researchers and staff on campus.

Based on a preliminary content analysis of our PTRC service transactions and events, from Spring 2024 to Fall 2025, several undergraduate students, graduate students, university alumni and members of the general public have requested individual consultations related to intellectual property protection for specific products, services and innovations across disciplines. In addition, several information sessions on intellectual property protection for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs have been coordinated and delivered in collaboration with a local Center for Entrepreneurship, the Business and Non-Profit Resource Center in a public library, a local Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and a local Chamber of Commerce.

Based on preliminary results, it seems that the development of PTRC collaborations with a local Center for Entrepreneurship, a public library and local government agencies helps to increase awareness of the richness and relevance of the intellectual property protection resources available not only for faculty, students, researchers and staff on campus, but also available for small business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs and the general public. Future research will strive to further develop opportunities for collaborations and partnerships with other resource centers and agencies that support research and innovation across disciplines, above and beyond campus.