Library innovations: an international overview of patents and utility models from Espacenet and Patentscope databases

Abstract

The literature on library and information sciencerelated patents and utility models is scarce, not only in Hungary but also in international context. Nevertheless, hundreds of new library-related patents are registered in the patent databases every year – inventions and new technological solutions that aim to improve the efficiency of library work and enhance the user experience. By far the majority (90%) of the patents relevant to our profession come from China, with the US and Europe accounting for between 1% and 5%. The majority of library-related patents are linked to classical library workflows: stock management, reading support, circulation and return. Among them, there are more complex inventions that require more financial investment (e.g. a shelfcleaning robot) and simpler ones, other versions of which are already in use today (e.g. some kind of anti-theft system). In our study, we have identified patents and utility models that became available internationally between 30 November 2018 and 30 November 2020.