diff --git a/addressbook/libedata-book/e-book-backend.c b/addressbook/libedata-book/e-book-backend.c
index 200d8e2..7eaf505 100644
--- a/addressbook/libedata-book/e-book-backend.c
+++ b/addressbook/libedata-book/e-book-backend.c
@@ -1098,6 +1098,54 @@ e_book_backend_set_is_removed (EBookBackend *backend,
 }
 
 /**
+ * e_book_backend_get_direct_book:
+ * @backend: an #EBookBackend
+ *
+ * Tries to create an #EDataBookDirect for @backend if
+ * backend supports direct read access.
+ *
+ * Returns: (transfer full): A new #EDataBookDirect object, or %NULL if @backend does not support direct access
+ *
+ * Since: 3.8
+ */
+EDataBookDirect *
+e_book_backend_get_direct_book (EBookBackend *backend)
+{
+	g_return_val_if_fail (E_IS_BOOK_BACKEND (backend), NULL);
+
+	if (E_BOOK_BACKEND_GET_CLASS (backend)->get_direct_book)
+		return E_BOOK_BACKEND_GET_CLASS (backend)->get_direct_book (backend);
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+/**
+ * e_book_backend_configure_direct:
+ * @backend: an #EBookBackend
+ * @config: The configuration string for the given backend
+ *
+ * This method is called on @backend in direct read access mode.
+ * The @config argument is the same configuration string which
+ * the same backend reported in the #EDataBookDirect returned
+ * by e_book_backend_get_direct_book().
+ *
+ * The configuration string is optional and is used to ensure
+ * that direct access backends are properly configured to
+ * interface with the same data as the running server side backend.
+ *
+ * Since: 3.8
+ */
+void
+e_book_backend_configure_direct (EBookBackend *backend,
+				 const gchar *config)
+{
+	g_return_if_fail (E_IS_BOOK_BACKEND (backend));
+
+	if (E_BOOK_BACKEND_GET_CLASS (backend)->configure_direct)
+		E_BOOK_BACKEND_GET_CLASS (backend)->configure_direct (backend, config);
+}
+
+/**
  * e_book_backend_sync:
  * @backend: an #EBookbackend
  *
diff --git a/addressbook/libedata-book/e-book-backend.h b/addressbook/libedata-book/e-book-backend.h
index 6358805..62430b8 100644
--- a/addressbook/libedata-book/e-book-backend.h
+++ b/addressbook/libedata-book/e-book-backend.h
@@ -26,11 +26,12 @@
 #ifndef E_BOOK_BACKEND_H
 #define E_BOOK_BACKEND_H
 
-#include <libebook/libebook.h>
+#include <libebook-contacts/libebook-contacts.h>
 #include <libebackend/libebackend.h>
 
 #include <libedata-book/e-data-book.h>
 #include <libedata-book/e-data-book-view.h>
+#include <libedata-book/e-data-book-direct.h>
 
 /* Standard GObject macros */
 #define E_TYPE_BOOK_BACKEND \
@@ -195,6 +196,11 @@ struct _EBookBackendClass {
 	void		(*notify_update)	(EBookBackend *backend,
 						 const EContact *contact);
 
+
+	EDataBookDirect *
+	        (* get_direct_book)             (EBookBackend *backend);
+	void    (* configure_direct)            (EBookBackend *backend, const gchar *config);
+
 	/* Notification signals */
 	void		(*sync)			(EBookBackend *backend);
 };
@@ -290,6 +296,10 @@ void		e_book_backend_notify_property_changed
 						 const gchar *prop_name,
 						 const gchar *prop_value);
 
+EDataBookDirect *
+                e_book_backend_get_direct_book  (EBookBackend *backend);
+void            e_book_backend_configure_direct (EBookBackend *backend, const gchar *config);
+
 void		e_book_backend_sync		(EBookBackend *backend);
 
 /* protected functions for subclasses */
