diff --git a/citation-resolve.cabal b/citation-resolve.cabal
--- a/citation-resolve.cabal
+++ b/citation-resolve.cabal
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 -- documentation, see http://haskell.org/cabal/users-guide/
 
 name:                citation-resolve
-version:             0.4.2.3
+version:             0.4.3
 synopsis:            convert document IDs such as DOI, ISBN, arXiv ID to bibliographic reference.
 description:         
   This modules provides a way to convert document identifiers, such
diff --git a/src/Text/CSL/Input/Identifier.hs b/src/Text/CSL/Input/Identifier.hs
--- a/src/Text/CSL/Input/Identifier.hs
+++ b/src/Text/CSL/Input/Identifier.hs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 module Text.CSL.Input.Identifier
        (resolveEither, resolve, withDatabaseFile, Database(..), database, databaseMap, HasDatabase(..),
-        resolveDef, 
+        resolveDef, resolveEitherDef, 
         toBibTeXItem)
        where
 
@@ -75,4 +75,11 @@
   let go = withDatabaseFile fn $ resolve url
   State.evalStateT go (def :: Database)
 
+-- | Resolve the document id using the default database, return an either value with 
+--   any errors that occur
 
+resolveEitherDef :: String -> IO (Either String Reference)
+resolveEitherDef s = do
+  fn <- getDataFileName "default.db"
+  let go = withDatabaseFile fn $ ( (runEitherT.resolveEither) s)
+  State.evalStateT go (Database Map.empty)