diff --git a/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/xpcom/data_access.js b/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/xpcom/data_access.js
index 7e884e7646..93023bc48f 100644
--- a/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/xpcom/data_access.js
+++ b/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/xpcom/data_access.js
@@ -713,6 +713,14 @@ Scholar.Item.prototype.removeNote = function(noteID){
 	return Scholar.DB.query(sql);
 }
 
+/**
+* Returns number of notes in item
+**/
+Scholar.Item.prototype.numNotes = function(){
+	var sql = "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM itemNotes WHERE itemID=" + this.getID();
+	return parseInt(Scholar.DB.valueQuery(sql));
+}
+
 /**
 * Get the text of an item note
 **/