diff --git a/ChangeLog.md b/ChangeLog.md
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/ChangeLog.md
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+# Revision history for gargoyle-postgresql-connect
+
+## 0.1
+
+* Initial release
diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE
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+Copyright (c) 2017, Obsidian Systems LLC
+All rights reserved.
+
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+
+1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+3. Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
+
+THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
diff --git a/gargoyle-postgresql-connect.cabal b/gargoyle-postgresql-connect.cabal
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+++ b/gargoyle-postgresql-connect.cabal
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+name:               gargoyle-postgresql-connect
+version:            0.1.0.0
+author:             Obsidian Systems LLC
+maintainer:         maintainer@obsidian.systems
+copyright:          Copyright (C) 2019 Obsidian Systems LLC
+license:            BSD3
+license-file:       LICENSE
+build-type:         Simple
+cabal-version:      >=1.10
+synopsis:           Connect to gargoyle-managed postgresql instances
+extra-source-files: ChangeLog.md
+category:           System
+description:        A convenience utility for connecting to a postgresql instance managed by gargoyle.
+tested-with:        GHC ==8.6.5 || ==8.8.4 || ==8.10.2
+
+library
+  exposed-modules:  Gargoyle.PostgreSQL.Connect
+  ghc-options:      -Wall
+  ghc-prof-options: -fprof-auto-exported
+  build-depends:
+      base                     >=4.12  && <4.15
+    , bytestring               >=0.10  && <0.12
+    , directory                >=1.3   && <1.4
+    , gargoyle                 ==0.1.1
+    , gargoyle-postgresql      ==0.2
+    , gargoyle-postgresql-nix  ==0.3
+    , postgresql-simple        >=0.5   && <0.7
+    , resource-pool            >=0.2.3
+
+  hs-source-dirs:   src
+  default-language: Haskell2010
diff --git a/src/Gargoyle/PostgreSQL/Connect.hs b/src/Gargoyle/PostgreSQL/Connect.hs
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+++ b/src/Gargoyle/PostgreSQL/Connect.hs
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+module Gargoyle.PostgreSQL.Connect (withDb, withDb', openDb) where
+
+import Control.Monad ((>=>))
+import Data.ByteString (ByteString)
+import qualified Data.ByteString.Char8 as C8
+import Data.Pool (Pool, createPool)
+import Database.PostgreSQL.Simple (Connection, close, connectPostgreSQL)
+import Gargoyle (withGargoyle)
+import Gargoyle.PostgreSQL.Nix (postgresNix)
+import System.Directory (doesFileExist)
+
+
+-- | Like 'withDb'' but turns the connection string into a connection
+-- 'Pool' for you and using 'error' on failure.
+withDb :: String -> (Pool Connection -> IO a) -> IO a
+withDb dbPath f = either error pure =<< withDb' dbPath (openDb >=> f)
+
+-- | Convert a connection string into a connection 'Pool'.
+openDb :: ByteString -> IO (Pool Connection)
+openDb dbUri = createPool (connectPostgreSQL dbUri) close 1 5 20
+
+-- | Connects to a database using information at the given filepath.
+-- The given filepath can be either a folder (for a local db)
+-- or a file with a database connection string.
+--
+-- 'withDb'' takes a String, which represents the path to a database, and a
+-- function that returns database connection information as arguments in
+-- order to open and start the database. Otherwise, it will create the
+-- database for you if it doesn't exist.
+withDb' :: String -> (ByteString -> IO a) -> IO (Either String a)
+withDb' dbPath f = do
+  dbExists <- doesFileExist dbPath
+  if dbExists
+    -- use the file contents as the URI for an existing server
+    then C8.readFile dbPath >>= \b -> case C8.lines b of
+      [] -> pure $ Left "DB connection string configuration file is empty"
+      -- TODO: Consider also blowing up if more than one line for next breaking release
+      x:_ -> Right <$> f x
+    -- otherwise assume it's a folder for a local database
+    else do
+      g <- postgresNix
+      Right <$> withGargoyle g dbPath f