Weeding

How familiar are you with weeding? I don't mean pulling unwanted plants from a garden, but rather removing books from a library collection.

Most of the population is pretty unfamiliar with weeding in librarianship. It isn't uncommon to first encounter weeding when someone finds the product--a pile of books in a bin--and is immediately horrified by libraries and librarians getting rid of them. It's unfortunate that they enter at that point, and aren't exposed to the beginning. Every librarian understands weeding is essential, and most will engage in weeding throughout their career. We even share our interesting finds on social media (#AdventuresInWeeding #WeedingWednesday) with each other.

Books to be evaluated (top) and to be removed (lower two levels)

The point of weeding is to remove outdated material so it can be replaced with newer, more accurate versions. Information changes as we learn more and society evolves. 

People rarely question the need for discards and updates in other industries. No one wants to rent a VHS or laser disc or even DVDs from Netflix; a dwelling that relied on a fireplace for heating and an icebox for food storage is undesirable.

Even in a specialized library service area like the PTRC, we have to weed our collections, so I thought it would be useful to share some of the process and explain why it's beneficial. After all, there will be a large number of disposed PTRC materials in the near future, so any public outcry can be directed here.

For those who may be unfamiliar, there was an enormous change in US patent law in 2011. So much of the previous system was overhauled that just about anything covering US patents published pre-2011 is now completely irrelevant. Unfortunately, that means almost everything about patents in our collection from before 2011 is also irrelevant. So far, I've removed all of the patent-focused books for evaluation; most will be discarded. Exceptions are patent case law series, books on the history of patents, and those concerned with patents abroad. 

Some of the evaluated materials we are keeping

It's also been a shock to learn how many books on software and domain development and protection we have from the 1990s and early 2000s. Just like the patent legal landscape has completely transformed, so has software technology and the internet. Even if copyright laws remained the same (and they most certainly do not), those books would still be completely out of touch. 

A third category of materials has been obsolesced within the past year: patent searching manuals. Materials published after 2011 are also mostly inaccurate, too, because the USPTO released a new search tool in early 2022 and discontinued its predecessors later that year. Fortunately, this is a much smaller set.

New gaps in our shelves

After taking the three above factors into consideration, most of those books still need evaluating. Do they have any relevant information that makes them worth keeping? Are there newer editions in our section or the larger Fondren collection? Does a newer edition exist that can easily replace it?

More shelf gaps that will likely grow larger

Then, we have to consider if the materials slated for discard without new editions need some kind of replacement. Some don't need updates, like guides to filing patent or trademark applications online; the only way to apply is online. Personal experience-based guides, academic monographs, and industry/professional association booklets offer valuable information, but require review. 

Come visit our refreshed PTRC collection in the next few weeks. Until then, chances are you will find me in the stacks a couple times a day, as I cart books back and forth to my office.

Creepy IP: Patents & Trademarks to Haunt You

For those of you who can't wait for the Fondren Halloween event on Oct. 31st, from 2-4pm in the Kyle Morrow Room (Fondy 3rd floor), let's take a look at some #CreepyIP. Even if we're hopping on the bandwagon a little late, we've tried our best to find patents and trademarks that haven't yet been featured by the USPTO, WIPO, or other IP agencies. Here are a few samples of what's in store⁰:

• Haunting help
  
• Ghost Sourcing, service mark, registration no. 6,663,900
• "Class 45: Ghost hunting services in the nature of ghost sourcing, ghost coaxing, and ghost relocation services"
   

  

  Reg. No. 6,663,900: Who you gonna NOT call?
  

  
  
• Communication with the beyond
• "Novelty device for communication between a human being and universal consciousness", utility patent no. 8,955,845, invented by Alexander Shvedov
  
• The invention is a device that allows the user to hold "the frame in his or her hands" and "observe the movements of the dot indicator over the diagram" showing letters, numbers, and symbols to "interpret the dialog" with the Universal Mind.
   

  

  US Patent 8,955,845: Chat with the Universal Mind!
  

  
  
• Body horror: tools that belong in movies
• "Model of the human knee suitable for teaching operative arthroscopy", utility patent no. 4,331,428, invented by Eugene J. Chandler
  
• Have you seen the movie "Crimes of the Future"? This looks like it belongs on that set.

  

  US Patent 4,331,428: Cronenberg and Carpenter can't compete...
  

  
  
• Terrifying and tasty 
• Alien tequila, trademark, registration no. 4,964,648
• In this case, the mark isn't the brand name or an image; it "consists of the three dimensional configuration of a bottle with an alien face on the front and the word "ALIEN" on the left side of the bottle"

  

  Reg. No. 4,964,648: Smooth, with tasting hints of something... disturbing
  

  
  
• Carnivorous plants
• Sarracenia pitcher plants are not as famous as Venus fly traps or triffids, but they're also carnivorous. Unlike most plants, these species cannot obtain necessary nutrients from soil and photosynthesis alone; instead they lure, kill, and absorb insects. 
• Patented plant 27,737, named 'White Wizard'; cultivar developed in 2015 by James L. Booman of Vista, CA.
  

  

  Patented Plant 27,737⁺: An all-natural pest-controlling murder machine
  

  
  

For the rest, you'll have to come see us on Monday! Grab a few (trademarked) treats while you're there, and get a closer look at all the documents and pictures. 

⁺Credit to University of Maryland Libraries Plant Patent Image Database; contributor Jim Miller is a fellow PTRC representative and a star among us.

⁰This is not an endorsement of any products by the PTRC, the Kelley Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, its employees, or any affiliates.

Kelley Center Picture Guessing Games

One of the fun parts of working in a department like the Kelley Center stems from our relative independence from the rest of Fondren: digging into old depository stuff and making the occasional fun discovery. Previously, NASA puzzles, state and national park maps, and old Fondy swag were uncovered.

Recently, I was partaking in this most entertaining of workplace games and found stacks of photos. Most of them were likely taken about 22-20 years ago. Unfortunately, that estimate is based on the dates the photos were printed. For those younger readers who might not understand the significance, people used to fill rolls of film with photos, and have them developed at whatever future point most suited them, be it the next day or maybe next year. Some cameras had a digital date imprint, but not the one used in these.

 Only one photo has a label on the back, and it just says "Houston":

1. The lone labeled photo

Any idea who is in that photo, or its date or event? 

I can guess who is in a few of the others, but I'd like to have my suspicions verified. Comment if you know the people, event, or reason for the picture, and provide the photo number.

2. Friendly Gov Docs information desk?

3. This very fun staff member

4. So much fun!

5. I think I know this one

6. Party Librarians!

History of the Patent and Trademark Resource Center

On July 28^th, we will be celebrating the Kelley Center’s 45^th anniversary as a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC; previously Patent and Trademark Depository Library). Curious about the history of the Kelley Center’s participation and partnership with the USPTO? You’ll have to come to the event for the full story, but here are some highlights.

In 1977, the USPTO founded the Patent Depository Library model, the modern predecessor to the PTRC program. 22 libraries were designated, replacing the former concept of a depository that had been around since the 1800s. The original members did not include Fondren Library, but on July 13^th, 1977, Barbara Kile, then-director of government documents, alerted her contemporary University Librarian, Richard O’Keefe, of the requirements to join and launched the process. By the 28^th, Fondren Library received its official designation from Commissioner C. Marshall Dann.

An article about Fondren's designation as a PDL.

Fondren Library was the first PDL in Texas, and Barbara Kile and he colleagues quickly became an active proponent of the Kelley Center participating in new programs and pilot projects. 

This very enthusiastic congratulatory letter is my favorite find in the patent archives.

In the late 1980s, the Kelley Center and Barbara Kile gained prominence among depository libraries and other related areas. Kile was a leader in the PDL Association, and Fondren was selected as one of 10 patent depository libraries to participate in a pilot study on the feasibility of the cost effectiveness of a new CD-ROM system. Soon after, Kile was invited to become a member of the Advisory Committee for Patents and Trademarks.

Houston Chronicle article on Fondren participation in CD-ROM test pilot.

A successful partnership with a private patent publisher expanded access to foreign patents and searching tools in 1988, and was the first of its kind.

Trademarks were officially given a place in the program name in 1990, when the USPTO reorganized and reallocated departments. Around the same time, it was discovered that 227 reels of patent microfilm were stolen from Fondren; evidently, it was part of rash of patent microfilm thefts from multiple patent depository libraries.

In 1997, the Kelley Center PTRC was designated as a USPTO Partnership Library, and the resultant South Central Intellectual Property Partnership at Rice (SCIPPR) became the third PTO Partnership Library.

Wondering about the details omitted, and what happened later in the 90s and 2000s? You can find out at the event during the presentation from 1:30-2:00pm!