diff --git a/library/lineutils.yap b/library/lineutils.yap
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7bb0b594f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/library/lineutils.yap
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+:- module(line_utils,
+	  [search_for/3,
+	   scan_natural/3,
+	   split/3
+	  ]).
+
+:- use_module(library(lists),
+	      [member/2]).
+
+
+search_for(C) --> [C], !.
+search_for(C) --> [_],
+	search_for(C).
+
+scan_natural(N) -->
+	scan_natural(0, N).
+
+scan_natural(N0,N) -->
+	[C],
+	{C >= 0'0, C =< 0'9 }, !,
+	{ N1 is N0*10+(C-0'0) },
+	get_natural(N1,N).
+scan_natural(N,N) --> [].
+
+split(String, SplitCodes, [S|Strings]) :-
+	split(SplitCodes, S, Strings, String, []).
+
+split(SplitCodes, [], [New|Set]) -->
+	[C],
+	{ member(C, SplitCodes) }, !,
+	split(SplitCodes, New, Set).
+split(SplitCodes, [C|New], Set) -->
+	[C], !,
+	split(SplitCodes, New, Set).
+split(_, [], []) --> [].
+