SERVICES
Provide reference assistance with Federal and Texas documents. Provide training and assistance in Patent and Trademark searching. Approximately 20 years of IRS tax forms are available for customer photocopying.

COLLECTIONS
Special collections | Collection strengths

Extensive collection of over half-a-million government publications from the United States and Texas including posters, CD-ROM, maps, microform, and paper documents. Excellent collection of U.S. Geological Survey Topographic Maps (7 1/2 Minute Quadrangles) for Texas.

Special collections:
Texas State Documents Depository
Federal Depository Library
Patent and Trademark Depository Library
Kelly AFB Information Repository

Collection strengths
Texas documents
Federal Documents
Patents & Trademarks

OTHER
Local volunteers from AARP and VITA provide income tax preparation assistance each year from early February to mid-April.

PATENT & TRADEMARK DEPOSITORY INFORMATION
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office | Texas Trademarks | Patent Tutorials | Intellectual Property
International Patents | Fun Link for Patents & Trademarks

United States Patent and Trademark Database (USPTO) - is the primary source for U.S. patents and trademarks. Established by Congress, the USPTO is authorized to grant patents for the protection of inventions and to register trademarks. The site features an array of substantial links for inventors, corporations, librarians, attorneys and the like, who need to retrieve government information about patents and trademarks.

Inventors’ Resources – the link provides key information that inventors should learn about before venturing into the complexity of patents and trademarks.

Frequently Asked Questions – from the General Information Service Division of USPTO, the link offers an assortment of practical information on patents and trademarks, such as a toll-free number, or a quick guide for marketing an invention.

Texas Secretary of State – persons wishing to business only in Texas, may obtain a trademark from the state. According to the Texas Secretary of State, registration of a trademark creates a legal presumption of the registrant’s ownership of the mark and the registrant’s exclusive right to use the mark in Texas commerce in connection with the goods or services described in the application.

Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program - offers a seven-step strategy for conducting a patent and trademark search.

University of Texas at Austin, Richard W. McKinney Engineering Library – Good tutorial with graphics and examples to resources used for thorough patent searching. The site refers to sources in the library’s collection; however, most of the sources are found in designated patent depository libraries, including the San Antonio Central Library. Part of the site includes a worksheet, which can be used to begin a basic search.

Rice University Fondren Library - cites USPTO links to forms with other selected topics, includes patent searching steps with resources available at patent and trademark depository libraries, federal laws and other thought-provoking links.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - offers a comprehensive definition of intellectual property and its great importance in regard to patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets.

American Inventors Protection Act (AIPA)  – along with links on the USPTO, the web site contains a guidebook with recent compilations of rulemaking and materials concerning patent policy and procedure. The basis of the Act to improve, simplify and streamline the process for applying for and obtaining patent protection for new inventions.

World Intellectual Property Organization  - fascinating site covering essential topics dealing with intellectual property. Located in Geneva, Switzerland, the WIPO is one of the 16 specialized agencies of the United Nations system of organizations. The office administers 21 international treaties dealing with different aspects of intellectual property protection. The UN counts 175 nations as member states. Information is available in Arabic, French and Spanish.

European Patent Office (EPO) - is the uniform patent system in Europe. Holds extensive information available in English, German, and French about the administration of patents. Includes directory links to patent offices of member and nonmember states, patent attorneys and sources.

The Patent Café - a well-organized commercial site with links to a multitude of topics. The format of the site includes a "Community" which allows inventors and others a forum to network.

Library Homepage | Central Departments Listing | Library Information