How to Find Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) sends official patent and trademark information to a Patent and Trademark Depository Library. You can get free access to these documents by contacting one of the many libraries across the country. Follow these steps to finding the right patent and trademark depository library.
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Instructions
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Access the official website of the PTO. Choose the link for PTDL Program.
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Look under the "Collections And Service" heading. Select the "Linked List to Libraries by State" item.
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Review the list of depositories by state. Narrow the search down to the city and then to the specific library.
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Use the contact information on the list to call the library. Ask about the size and type of patent and trademark documents the library holds. Also ask about the hours the library allows the public to view these documents.
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Consider your experience in searching patent and trademark documents. Ask whether the library provides technical support to the public in using its materials.
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Locate a partnership patent library if the ones on the main PTO list do not provide the kind of services needed. Call the Detroit Public Library in Detroit, Michigan at (313) 833-3379. Alternatively, call the Sunnyvale Center for Innovation in Sunnyvale, California, at (415) 557-4500.
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Get updated listings of the patent and trademark depository libraries from the PTO publication, "Official Gazette." Access this document from the Resources section of the PTO's official website.
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Tips & Warnings
While most patent and trademark depository libraries offer free access to the public, expect to pay a fee if you plan on using one of the partnership patent libraries. Ask about the fee in advance.
