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| Home : Volume 31 : Spring 2005 : | |
| Wisconsin TechSearch celebrates 40 years | |
From left: Cindy Rothwell (financial specialist), Jennifer Velasco (student assistant), Brett Demars (office manager), Frances Wood (seated/first WTS director), Lenny Black (director), Carolyn Tweten (assistant director), Karen Wagner (librarian), Rachel Watters (librarian), Rebekah Turner (senior office manager), and Ana Maria Acosta (student assistant)
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Many companies have recognized the talented and knowledgeable Wisconsin TechSearch (WTS) staff for its speed in gathering and providing information. Law firms on deadline with patent infringement cases have credited WTS with helping them out of some tight spots. Firms working on research and development praise WTS for uncovering information about crucial technology.
Wisconsin TechSearch, the Kurt F. Wendt Library's information outreach program for business and industry, is marking its 40th year of service. WTS provides access to published information — articles, book loans, government reports, standards and specifications — and offers online database searching on any topic of interest to engineers, scientists, attorneys, consultants or marketers.
WTS was established in April 1965 as a result of the U.S. State Technical Services Act. The purpose of the act was to encourage "wider diffusion and more effective application of science and technology in business, commerce and industry," an activity that is "essential to the growth of the economy, to higher levels of employment, and to the competitive position of United States products in world markets."
Frances Wood was the program's first director. At its inception, the WTS staff consisted of two professional librarians and part-time support staff along with a handful of student and project assistants.
For about 10 years, the team worked out of a university-owned residence on the site of what would become the Kurt F. Wendt Library. It was known as the Information Services Division until 1988 and was jointly administered by the library and the University-Industry Research program. In its first full year, Wisconsin companies made approximately 500 requests for information. The requests were mostly for journal articles or book loans and included a handful of literature search or reference questions.
Wisconsin TechSearch has grown considerably over 40 years. The program was quick to exploit electronic resources to provide companies with efficient and economic service.
"I've always felt WTS made a good illustration of how the Wisconsin Idea has grown," says WTS Director Lenny Black. "The Wisconsin Idea has the aim of putting the knowledge resources of the UW to work for the state. Wisconsin TechSearch has grown with the university and is reaching constituents well beyond the boundaries of Wisconsin."
The self-supporting program now employs four full-time librarians, two full-time support positions, a part-time project assistant and more than 20 student assistants. Currently, WTS serves a national clientele and receives about 50,000 requests annually.
Content by perspective@engr.wisc.edu
Date last modified: 25-May-2005
Date created: 25-May-2005
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