diff --git a/beets/library.py b/beets/library.py
index e77769548..1b991cbe1 100644
--- a/beets/library.py
+++ b/beets/library.py
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ ALBUM_FIELDS = [
     ('album',   'text'),
     ('artpath', 'text'),
 ]
+ALBUM_KEYS = [f[0] for f in ALBUM_FIELDS]
 
 # Default search fields for various granularities.
 ARTIST_DEFAULT_FIELDS = ('artist',)
@@ -206,8 +207,7 @@ class Item(object):
 
     def __getattr__(self, key):
         """If key is an item attribute (i.e., a column in the database),
-        returns the record entry for that key. Otherwise, performs an
-        ordinary getattr.
+        returns the record entry for that key.
         """
         if key in ITEM_KEYS:
             return self.record[key]
@@ -528,6 +528,31 @@ class ResultIterator(object):
         return Item(row)
 
 
+# Album information proxy objects.
+
+class AlbumInfo(object):
+    """Provides access to information about albums stored in a library.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, library, album, artist):
+        self._library = library
+        self._album = album
+        self._artist = artist
+
+    def __getattr__(self, key):
+        """Get an album field's value."""
+        if key in ALBUM_KEYS:
+            return self._library._album_get(self._album, self._artist, key)
+        else:
+            return getattr(self, key)
+
+    def __setattr__(self, key, value):
+        """Set an album field."""
+        if key in ALBUM_KEYS:
+            self._library._album_set(self._album, self._artist, key, value)
+        else:
+            super(AlbumInfo, self).__setattr__(key, value)
+
+
 # An abstract library.
 
 class BaseLibrary(object):
@@ -651,6 +676,28 @@ class BaseLibrary(object):
         return sorted(out, compare)
 
 
+    # Album information.
+    # Provides access to information about items at an album
+    # granularity. AlbumInfo proxy objects are used to access fields;
+    # they invoke _album_get and _album_set.
+
+    def albuminfo(self, artist, album):
+        """Given an artist and album name, return an AlbumInfo proxy
+        object whose attributes correspond to information about the
+        album.
+        """
+        return AlbumInfo(self, artist, album)
+
+    def _album_get(self, artist, album, key):
+        """For the album specified, returns the value associated with
+        the key."""
+        raise NotImplementedError()
+
+    def _album_set(self, artist, album, key, value):
+        """Sets the indicated album's value for key."""
+        raise NotImplementedError()
+
+
 # Concrete DB-backed library.
 
 class Library(BaseLibrary):
diff --git a/test/test_db.py b/test/test_db.py
index 8ddc54a26..48a29ef05 100644
--- a/test/test_db.py
+++ b/test/test_db.py
@@ -321,6 +321,23 @@ class MigrationTest(unittest.TestCase):
         except sqlite3.OperationalError:
             self.fail("select failed")
 
+class AlbumInfoTest(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.lib = beets.library.Library(':memory:')
+        self.i = item()
+        self.lib.add(self.i)
+
+    def test_albuminfo_reflects_metadata(self):
+        ai = self.lib.albuminfo(self.i.artist, self.i.album)
+        self.assertEqual(ai.artist, self.i.artist)
+        self.assertEqual(ai.album, self.i.album)
+
+    def test_albuminfo_stores_art(self):
+        ai = self.lib.albuminfo(self.i.artist, self.i.album)
+        ai.artpath = '/my/great/art'
+        new_ai = self.lib.albuminfo(self.i.artist, self.i.album)
+        self.assertEqual(new_ai.artpath, '/my/great/art')
+
 def suite():
     return unittest.TestLoader().loadTestsFromName(__name__)