MSU Libraries Associate Dean David Nolen, Spruce Fraser of USPTO, Austin Check with MSU Office of Technology Management and Johnna Childs of USPTO cut the ribbon for the new patent center (top photo). Li Zhang, MSU’s Science, Engineering, and Patent Librarian, Austin Check, Johnna Child, Dr. Deborah Lee, David Nolen and Spruce Fraser during the event.
The University Libraries at Mississippi State University celebrated its designation as a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday. Representatives from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), MSU’s Office of Technology Management, and library leadership participated in the event.
As part of the nationwide PTRC network, the MSU Libraries will provide essential resources and expertise in patent and trademark information. This designation enables the library to connect inventors and entrepreneurs with comprehensive intellectual property research tools. Professor Li Zhang, MSU’s Science, Engineering, and Patent Librarian, as well as the university’s PTRC representative, highlighted the importance of the designation in supporting innovation and economic development.
In a letter announcing the designation, Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, emphasized the broader impact of the MSU Libraries’ new role. Vidal stated that the PTRC will help “historically underserved communities gain greater access to the patent and trademark system to protect their ideas, brands, and companies.” She added that the designation positions MSU Libraries to contribute to pathways for quality jobs, entrepreneurship, and equity within the innovation ecosystem.
Dr. Lis Pankl, Dean of Libraries, noted that becoming a PTRC aligns with the institution’s mission and values.
“The designation of the MSU Libraries as a PTRC reflects our commitment to empowering users to explore new ideas and aligns with the university’s mission to foster innovation through transformative research and creativity,” Pankl said. “This also reinforces Mississippi State University’s land-grant mission and its dedication to entrepreneurship and economic development across the state.”
The PTRC designation underscores the library’s role as a catalyst for innovation and a resource for the regional entrepreneurial community, further advancing MSU’s contributions to research and economic growth.
Learn more: https://www.library.msstate.edu/ptrc
