35 USC § 7 - Library

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t35/s7"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "35 USC § 7 - Library"
title_number: 35
title_name: "PATENTS"
section_number: "7"
section_name: "Library"
chapter_number: 1
chapter_name: "ESTABLISHMENT, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, FUNCTIONS"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2025-12-12"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 793, § 8; Pub. L. 93–596, § 1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1949; renumbered § 7 and amended Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, §§ 4717(1), 4732(a)(10)(A)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–580, 1501A–582; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title III, § 13206(b)(1)(B), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1906.)"
---


# § 7. Library

The Director shall maintain a library of scientific and other works and periodicals, both foreign and domestic, in the Patent and Trademark Office to aid the officers in the discharge of their duties.

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**Source Credit**: (July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 793, § 8; Pub. L. 93–596, § 1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1949; renumbered § 7 and amended Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, §§ 4717(1), 4732(a)(10)(A)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–580, 1501A–582; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title III, § 13206(b)(1)(B), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1906.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on Title 35, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 10 (R.S. 486).

Some change in language has been made. “Purchased” is changed to “maintained” to include the existing library and keeping it up by additions. The phrase “and other” is added to include legal works. The last phrase of the corresponding section of the existing statute is omitted as unnecessary.

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 7, acts , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , , established the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences, prior to repeal by , , , 1501A–580, 1501A–581, effective 4 months after .

### Amendments

2002— made technical correction to directory language of . See 1999 Amendment note below.

1999—, as amended by , substituted “Director” for “Commissioner”.

, renumbered  as this section.

1975— substituted “Patent and Trademark Office” for “Patent Office”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

Amendment by  effective 4 months after , see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4731] of , set out as a note under .

### Effective Date of 1975 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as a note under , Commerce and Trade.