YAVAPAI COUNTY, Ariz., October 2026 – The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) officially designated Yavapai County Free Library District (YCFLD) as a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) on Sept. 18, 2026, making YCFLD the first and currently only USPTO-designated PTRC within the county. Inventors, entrepreneurs, and small businesses interested in patenting an invention or registering a trademark are now able to receive educational assistance through YCFLD.

YCFLD’s trained PTRC representative will help community members learn how to use USPTO search tools, locate patent and trademark information, understand the general application process, and connect individuals with additional USPTO resources.

“Over the last several years the Library District has made a concerted effort to provide additional supports for entrepreneurs and businesses,” said County Librarian, Corey Christians. “We are pleased that our three-year endeavor to be designated an official Patent and Trademark Resource Center by the United States Patent and Trademark Office has come to fruition.” Christians thanked, “Kristi King, Minh Nguyen, and Ruthie Hewitt for their efforts in making this designation a reality,” and “our friends at the USPTO for their confidence and support.”

As part of an initiative to assist individuals, small businesses, and entrepreneurs YCFLD began pursuing the PTRC designation in 2023 after identifying a need for local access to patent and trademark information. Although PTRC representatives cannot provide legal advice, prepare or file an application, or determine whether an invention is eligible for legal protection, they can help individuals gain knowledge in patent and trademark basics and connect them with additional USPTO resource like the directory of registered patent attorneys and agents.

Patent and trademark reference appointments are open to the public and available Mondays and Thursdays 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Tuesdays and Wednesdays noon – 3 p.m. Individuals interested in PTRC services can book a free, virtual appointment at: https://ycfld.gov/PTRC.

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Established in 1987 by the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors, the Yavapai County Free Library District (YCFLD) provides library materials, programs, and services to meet the informational and recreational needs of Yavapai County residents through its fifteen branch libraries, affiliates, and the Yavapai Library Network (YLN).