April is the coolest month – for librarians! We celebrate National Library Week April 7th-13th, World Book and Copyright Day on April 23rd, and World Intellectual Property Day on April 26th.

You can still add to #MyLibraryMyStory on Twitter, and join the thousands that have been blogging all month. Or just read the great tweets already posted!

What’s the difference between copyright and an intellectual property claim? Intellectual property is the broadest, including copyrights, patents, and trademarks. These are then distinguished by the medium. If your idea is fixed in an image or text – like this page whether online or printed out – you can claim a copyright. If your idea is an invention for a machine or process, you can get a patent. If it is a slogan or logo distinguishing the origin of goods or services, you can claim a trademark. More information is at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Stop in and see our display on different kinds of intellectual property rights claims, how they contribute to our economy, and how to avoid violating them.