[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 184 (Monday, September 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44585-44586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20369]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office


Patent and Trademark Resource Centers Metrics

ACTION: Proposed information collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as 
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996, invites comments on a 
proposed extension of an existing information collection: 0651-0068 
(Patent and Trademark Resource Center Metrics).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 24, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651-
0068 comment'' in the subject line of the message.
     Federal Register Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: Marcie Lovett, Records and Information Governance 
Division Director, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, United 
States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 
22313-1450.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Robert Berry, Manager, Patent and Trademark 
Resource Center Program, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, 
VA 22313-1450; by telephone at (571) 272-7152; or by email at 
[email protected] with ``0651-0068 comment'' in the subject line. 
Additional information about this collection is also available at 
http://www.reginfo.gov under ``Information Collection Review.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The USPTO seeks to collect from Patent Trademark Resource Centers 
(PTRC) information about the public's use of and training on the tools 
provided through the centers. Specifically, the USTPO seeks metrics 
concerning the public's use of patent and trademark services and the 
public outreach efforts provided by the PTRCs.
    The PTRC Program is authorized under the provision of 35 U.S.C. 
2(a)(2), which provides that the USPTO shall be responsible for 
disseminating information with respect to patents and trademarks to the 
public. The PTRC Program is made up public, state, and academic 
libraries. Once a library has been designated as a PTRC, each 
participating library must fulfill the following requirements: assist 
the public in the efficient use of patent and trademark information 
resources; provide free access to patent and trademark resources 
provided by the USPTO; and send representatives to attend the USPTO-
hosted PTRC training seminars. At present, there are 86 libraries that 
are a part of the growing PTRC Program.
    The PTRC Program requirements stipulate that all participating 
libraries must submit periodic metrics on the public's use of the 
patent and trademark services through the PTRCs and the public outreach 
efforts provided by the PTRCs. To facilitate this requirement, the 
USPTO has developed a worksheet to collect the metrics. A third-party 
vendor will collect the metrics on a quarterly basis. The information 
will only be collected electronically. The PTRCs will be given a 
password to input their information.
    This information collection will enable the USPTO to ascertain what 
types of services the PTRCs should offer and to train PTRC staff more 
effectively, as the PTRCs continue to move away from the physical 
distribution of hard copy information. Collection of this information 
will enable the USPTO to service its current customers while more 
effectively planning for the future.

II. Method of Collection

    The metrics will be submitted electronically to the USPTO.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0651-0068.
    IC Instruments and Forms: No forms are associated with this 
collection of information.
    Type of Review: Revision of an existing information collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profits; not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 344 responses per year. The USPTO 
estimates that there will be up to 88 libraries reporting their metrics 
once per quarter, resulting in a total of 352 responses per year. This 
estimate includes possible growth in the PTRC program above the 86 
libraries that are currently reporting.
    Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take 
the public approximately 30 minutes (0.50 hours) to gather the 
necessary information, prepare the worksheet, and submit it to the 
USPTO.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 176 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost Burden: $5,536.96 The USPTO 
expects that the information in this collection will be prepared by 
library staff, at an estimated hourly rate of $31.46. This is the mean 
hourly wage for college librarians according to the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics (OES 25-4021). Using this 
hourly rate, the USPTO estimates that the respondent cost burden for 
this collection will be approximately $5,536.96 per year.

[[Page 44586]]



                                                                 Table 1--Hourly Burden
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                                                             Estimated time                                                            Estimated  annual
              IC No.                         Item             for response    Estimated  annual   Estimated annual     Rate  ($/hr)     respondent  cost
                                                                 (hour)            responses           burden                                burden
                                    .....................                (a)                (b)    (c) = (a) x (b)                (d)    (e) = (c) x (d)
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1.................................  PTRC Metric Worksheet  0.50 (30 minutes)                352                176             $31.46        $5,53611.96
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    Total.........................  .....................  .................                352                176  .................           5,536.96
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    Estimated Total Annual Non-Hour Respondent Cost Burden: $0. There 
are no filing fees, capital start-up, maintenance, operation, or 
postage costs associated with this collection.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized or 
included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection. They also will become a matter of public record.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information shall have practical utility;
    (b) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including 
hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;
    (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected, and;
    (d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, e.g., the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.

Marcie Lovett,
Records and Information Governance Division Director, OCTO, United 
States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2017-20369 Filed 9-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-16-P