diff --git a/beets/library.py b/beets/library.py
index c234b9ff8..3a120b720 100644
--- a/beets/library.py
+++ b/beets/library.py
@@ -311,10 +311,13 @@ class Item(object):
         self.remove()
     
     @classmethod
-    def from_path(cls, path):
-        """Creates a new item from the media file at the specified path."""
+    def from_path(cls, path, library=None):
+        """Creates a new item from the media file at the specified path. Sets
+        the item's library (but does not add the item) if library is
+        specified."""
         i = cls({})
         i.read(path)
+        i.library = library
         return i
 
 
@@ -562,10 +565,10 @@ class Library(object):
         
         for f in _walk_files(path):
             try:
-                i = Item.from_path(_normpath(f))
+                i = Item.from_path(_normpath(f), self)
                 if copy:
                     i.move(copy=True)
-                i.add(self)
+                i.add()
             except FileTypeError:
                 _log(f + ' of unknown type, skipping')
     
diff --git a/test/test_db.py b/test/test_db.py
index 9af6c0dc8..07f5eeed9 100755
--- a/test/test_db.py
+++ b/test/test_db.py
@@ -78,16 +78,23 @@ class StoreTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
 class AddTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
-        self.lib = lib()
+        self.lib = beets.library.Library(':memory:')
         self.i = item(self.lib)
     def tearDown(self):
         self.lib.conn.close()
     
-    def test_add_inserts_row(self):
+    def test_item_add_inserts_row(self):
         self.i.add()
         new_grouping = self.lib.conn.execute('select grouping from items '
             'where composer="the composer"').fetchone()['grouping']
         self.assertEqual(new_grouping, self.i.grouping)
+    
+    def test_library_add_inserts_row(self):
+        self.lib.add(os.path.join('rsrc', 'full.mp3'))
+        new_grouping = self.lib.conn.execute('select grouping from items '
+            'where composer="the composer"').fetchone()['grouping']
+        self.assertEqual(new_grouping, self.i.grouping)
+        
 
 class RemoveTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
diff --git a/test/test_files.py b/test/test_files.py
index 07b8bf291..46e7716f9 100755
--- a/test/test_files.py
+++ b/test/test_files.py
@@ -123,7 +123,21 @@ class WalkTest(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertTrue(f in s)
             s.remove(f)
         self.assertTrue(not s)
-        
+
+class AddTest(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.dir = os.path.join('rsrc', 'test_lib')
+        self.lib = beets.library.Library(':memory:')
+        self.lib.options['directory'] = self.dir
+        self.lib.options['path_format'] = 'item'
+    def tearDown(self):
+        if os.path.exists(self.dir):
+            shutil.rmtree(self.dir)
+
+    def test_library_add_copies(self):
+        self.lib.add(os.path.join('rsrc', 'full.mp3'), copy=True)
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isfile(os.path.join(self.dir, 'item')))
+
 def suite():
     return unittest.TestLoader().loadTestsFromName(__name__)