diff --git a/src/IOCoordinator.cpp b/src/IOCoordinator.cpp
index fbcc40ae3..e1a07cebb 100644
--- a/src/IOCoordinator.cpp
+++ b/src/IOCoordinator.cpp
@@ -435,4 +435,50 @@ string IOCoordinator::getNewKey(string sourceName, size_t offset, size_t length)
     return ss.str();
 }
 
+bool IOCoordinator::readLock(const string &filename)
+{
+    boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> s(lockMutex);
+
+    auto ins = locks.insert(pair<string, RWLock *>(filename, NULL));
+    if (ins.second)
+        ins.first->second = new RWLock();
+    ins.first->second->readLock(s);
+}
+
+void IOCoordinator::readUnlock(const string &filename)
+{
+    boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> s(lockMutex);
+    
+    auto it = locks.find(filename);
+    it->second->readUnlock();
+    if (!it->second->inUse())
+    {
+        delete it->second;
+        locks.erase(it);
+    }
+}
+
+bool IOCoordinator::writeLock(const string &filename)
+{
+    boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> s(lockMutex);
+    
+    auto ins = locks.insert(pair<string, RWLock *>(filename, NULL));
+    if (ins.second)
+        ins.first->second = new RWLock();
+    ins.first->second->writeLock(s);
+}
+
+void IOCoordinator::writeUnlock(const string &filename)
+{
+    boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> s(lockMutex);
+    
+    auto it = locks.find(filename);
+    it->second->readUnlock();
+    if (!it->second->inUse())
+    {
+        delete it->second;
+        locks.erase(it);
+    }
+}
+
 }
diff --git a/src/IOCoordinator.h b/src/IOCoordinator.h
index 134187aa1..a91347a37 100644
--- a/src/IOCoordinator.h
+++ b/src/IOCoordinator.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 #include "Config.h"
 #include "SMLogging.h"
+#include "RWLock.h"
 
 namespace storagemanager
 {
@@ -44,11 +45,20 @@ class IOCoordinator : public boost::noncopyable
         boost::shared_array<uint8_t> mergeJournal(const char *objectPath, const char *journalPath, off_t offset = 0, size_t len = 0) const;
         int mergeJournalInMem(uint8_t *objData, const char *journalPath);
         
+        /* Lock manipulation fcns.  They can lock on any param given to them. */
+        bool readLock(const std::string &filename);
+        bool writeLock(const std::string &filename);
+        void readUnlock(const std::string &filename);
+        void writeUnlock(const std::string &filename);
+        
     private:
         IOCoordinator();
         Config *config;
         SMLogging *logger;
         size_t objectSize;
+        
+        std::map<std::string, RWLock *> locks;
+        boost::mutex lockMutex;  // lol
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/RWLock.cpp b/src/RWLock.cpp
index 22f5cf59c..c6af32190 100644
--- a/src/RWLock.cpp
+++ b/src/RWLock.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ RWLock::~RWLock()
     assert(!writersRunning);
 }
 
+bool RWLock::inUse()
+{
+    return readersWaiting || readersRunning || writersWaiting || writersRunning;
+}
+
 void RWLock::readLock()
 {
     boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> s(m);
@@ -27,6 +32,19 @@ void RWLock::readLock()
     --readersWaiting;
 }
 
+void RWLock::readLock(boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> &l)
+{
+    boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> s(m);
+    l.unlock();
+    
+    ++readersWaiting;
+    while (writersWaiting != 0 || writersRunning != 0)
+        okToRead.wait(s);
+        
+    ++readersRunning;
+    --readersWaiting;
+}
+
 void RWLock::readUnlock()
 {
     boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> s(m);
@@ -48,6 +66,19 @@ void RWLock::writeLock()
     --writersWaiting;
 }
 
+void RWLock::writeLock(boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> &l)
+{
+    boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> s(m);
+    l.unlock();
+    
+    ++writersWaiting;
+    while (readersRunning != 0 || writersRunning != 0)
+        okToWrite.wait(s);
+    
+    ++writersRunning;
+    --writersWaiting;
+}
+
 void RWLock::writeUnlock()
 {
     boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> s(m);
diff --git a/src/RWLock.h b/src/RWLock.h
index 188ff4e0c..28eab3ff0 100644
--- a/src/RWLock.h
+++ b/src/RWLock.h
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 #include <boost/thread/mutex.hpp>
 #include <boost/thread/condition.hpp>
 
-
 /* Quicky impl of a read-write lock that prioritizes writers. */
 namespace storagemanager
 {
@@ -12,10 +11,17 @@ namespace storagemanager
             ~RWLock();
             
             void readLock();
+            // this version will release the lock in the parameter after locking this instance
+            void readLock(boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> &);
             void readUnlock();
             void writeLock();
+            // this version will release the lock in the parameter after locking this instance
+            void writeLock(boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> &);
             void writeUnlock();
             
+            // returns true if anything is blocked on or owns this lock instance.
+            bool inUse();
+            
         private:
             uint readersWaiting;
             uint readersRunning;