diff --git a/beets/ui/__init__.py b/beets/ui/__init__.py
index 6cd4bb7bd..06430c20d 100644
--- a/beets/ui/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/ui/__init__.py
@@ -731,6 +731,7 @@ def main(args=None, configfh=None):
                               replacements)
     except sqlite3.OperationalError:
         raise UserError("database file %s could not be opened" % db_path)
+    plugins.send("library_opened", lib=lib)
 
     # Configure the logger.
     log = logging.getLogger('beets')
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 104b8a0e4..7cef3e1a1 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ Changelog
 
 * New plugin event: ``import_task_choice`` is called after an import task has an
   action assigned.
+* New plugin event: ``library_opened`` is called when beets starts up and
+  opens the library database.
 
 1.0b14 (May 12, 2012)
 ---------------------
diff --git a/docs/plugins/writing.rst b/docs/plugins/writing.rst
index 045bee557..f7115e76f 100644
--- a/docs/plugins/writing.rst
+++ b/docs/plugins/writing.rst
@@ -142,6 +142,9 @@ currently available are:
   Use ``task.choice_flag`` to determine the action to be taken. Parameters:
   ``task`` and ``config``.
 
+* *library_opened*: called after beets starts up and initializes the main
+  Library object. Parameter: ``lib``.
+
 The included ``mpdupdate`` plugin provides an example use case for event listeners.
 
 Extend the Autotagger