With much anticipation, Shu Wen (Medical Resource librarian) and I (Science Resource librarian) conducted a tutorial on patents on 16 April at Science Library. As this was the first time we were conducting such a class, we didn’t know what to expect. What questions will the participants ask? Will they be too difficult for us to answer? Will we have problems with the databases?

It was all systems go. About 30 people attended the session. Shu Wen started the session with a powerpoint presentation. Then came the highlight of the session where she shared her personal experience in filing a patent for an undergraduate research she had done with her professor. The questions came fast and furious. It was great that the participants themselves were helping to answer questions from other participants, and sharing their own experiences. I continued the session by demonstrating the Internet sources and databases. Finally, it was over. Whew! No hiccups.

There is definitely a lot of interest for such patent tutorials. On the same day that we announced this patent class in the NUS Calendar of Events, all the places were filled up. We even had a long waitlist. We will review the session and feedback given by the participants, and conduct future sessions. We’ll be back for more!

By the way, Shu Wen is not the first staff from NUS Libraries to file a patent. Mr Patrick Lye, Principal Librarian at the Central Library’s Loans & Membership Department had been granted a Singapore Patent. His invention? The Book Chute located at Central Library!

Loh Mee Lan
Patent Team