diff --git a/python/dapper_python/dataset_loader.py b/python/dapper_python/dataset_loader.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dc39e9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/dapper_python/dataset_loader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+import platform
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Dict, List, Any, Optional
+import tomlkit
+import sqlite3
+
+
+@dataclass
+class DatasetMeta:
+    """Dataset metadata matching Rust Dataset struct"""
+
+    version: int
+    format: str
+    timestamp: datetime
+    categories: List[str]
+    filepath: Path
+
+
+class DatasetCatalog:
+    """Class for managing SQLite databases via dataset_info.toml"""
+
+    def __init__(self, app_name: Optional[str] = "dapper", file_path: Optional[str] = None):
+        self.app_name = app_name
+        self.dataset_metas: Dict[str, DatasetMeta] = {}
+
+        self._load_from_dataset_info_toml(file_path)
+
+    def _load_from_dataset_info_toml(self, file_path: Optional[str] = None):
+        """Load installed datasets from dataset_info.toml"""
+        try:
+            toml_path = self._find_dataset_info_toml(file_path)
+            with open(toml_path, "r") as f:
+                config = tomlkit.load(f)
+
+            datasets_dict = config.get("datasets", {})
+            for name, dataset_data in datasets_dict.items():
+                self.dataset_metas[name] = DatasetMeta(
+                    version=int(dataset_data["version"]),
+                    format=dataset_data["format"],
+                    timestamp=datetime.fromisoformat(
+                        dataset_data["timestamp"].replace("Z", "+00:00")
+                    ),
+                    categories=dataset_data["categories"],
+                    filepath=Path(dataset_data["filepath"]),
+                )
+
+            print(f"dataset Loaded {len(self.dataset_metas)} datasets from dataset_info.toml")
+
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            print("No dataset_info.toml found - starting with empty catalog")
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"Error loading dataset_info.toml: {e}")
+
+    def _find_dataset_info_toml(self, file_path: Optional[str] = None) -> Path:
+        if file_path:
+            # If directory provided, append filename
+            path = Path(file_path)
+            if path.is_dir():
+                candidate = path / "dataset_info.toml"
+                if candidate.exists():
+                    return candidate
+            # If file provided directly
+            elif path.is_file():
+                return path
+            raise FileNotFoundError(f"Could not find dataset_info.toml at {file_path}")
+
+        # Default: look in current directory first, then app data
+        current_dir = Path(".") / "dataset_info.toml"
+        if current_dir.exists():
+            return current_dir
+
+        # Fallback to app data directory
+        app_dir = Path(self.get_app_data_dir(self.app_name))
+        candidate = app_dir / "dataset_info.toml"
+        if candidate.exists():
+            return candidate
+
+        raise FileNotFoundError("Could not find dataset_info.toml")
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_app_data_dir(app_name: Optional[str] = "dapper") -> str:
+        """Get the platform-specific application data directory"""
+
+        system = platform.system()
+
+        if system == "Linux":
+            xdg_data_home = os.environ.get("XDG_DATA_HOME")
+            if xdg_data_home:
+                return os.path.join(xdg_data_home, app_name)
+            else:
+                return os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), ".local", "share", app_name)
+
+        elif system == "Darwin":
+            return os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), "Library", "Application Support", app_name)
+
+        elif system == "Windows":
+            appdata = os.environ.get("LOCALAPPDATA")
+            if appdata:
+                return os.path.join(appdata, app_name, "data")
+            else:
+                return os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), "AppData", "Local", app_name, "data")
+
+        else:
+            return os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), f".{app_name}")
+
+    def get_available_datasets(self, category: Optional[str] = None) -> List[str]:
+        """Return list of dataset names, optionally filtered by category"""
+        if not category:
+            return list(self.dataset_metas.keys())
+        return [name for name, meta in self.dataset_metas.items() if category in meta.categories]
+
+    def get_dataset_path(self, dataset_name: str) -> Optional[Path]:
+        """Get path to dataset file for loading/querying"""
+        if dataset_name in self.dataset_metas:
+            return self.dataset_metas[dataset_name].filepath
+        return None
+
+    def get_dataset_info(self, dataset_name: str) -> Optional[DatasetMeta]:
+        """Get full metadata for a dataset"""
+        return self.dataset_metas.get(dataset_name)
+
+    def load_dataset(self, dataset_name: str) -> sqlite3.Connection:
+        """Load/open a dataset database for READ-ONLY querying"""
+        db_path = self.get_dataset_path(dataset_name)
+        if not db_path or not db_path.exists():
+            raise FileNotFoundError(f"Dataset '{dataset_name}' not found")
+
+        # Open in read-only mode
+        uri = f"file:{db_path}?mode=ro"
+        return sqlite3.connect(uri, uri=True)
diff --git a/python/pyproject.toml b/python/pyproject.toml
index 37075e5..3387b8e 100644
--- a/python/pyproject.toml
+++ b/python/pyproject.toml
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ authors = [
 license = { text = "MIT License" }
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.6"
+dependencies = [
+    "tomlkit"
+]
 classifiers = [
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3",
     "License :: OSI Approved :: MIT License",
@@ -55,4 +58,4 @@ indent-width = 4
 select = ["E", "F", "B", "I"]
 ignore = ["E501", "F841"]
 # don't fix flake8-bugbear (`B`) violations
-unfixable = ["B"]
\ No newline at end of file
+unfixable = ["B"]