diff --git a/lib/std.lua b/lib/std.lua
index 2554cf9..6565578 100644
--- a/lib/std.lua
+++ b/lib/std.lua
@@ -63,3 +63,31 @@ std.pcty = function(percent)
     local width, height = ag.getScreenSize()
     return height * percent
 end
+
+-- Load an object from a model file and figure out what scale
+-- to use based on a maximum specified bounding box the model must fit in.
+-- Input:
+--   model_name: the string containing the name of the model to load
+--   max_x, max_y, max_z: 
+std.loadModelBounds = function(model_name, max_x, max_y, max_z)
+    local tmp_model = ag.loadModel(model_name)
+    local sx, sy, sz = tmp_model:getSize()
+    tmp_model:destroy()
+    local scale = 1.0
+    if (max_x > 0 and sx > 0) then
+        scale = max_x / sx
+    end
+    if (max_y > 0 and sy > 0) then
+        local s = max_y / sy
+        if (s < scale) then
+            scale = s
+        end
+    end
+    if (max_z > 0 and sz > 0) then
+        local s = max_z / sz
+        if (s < scale) then
+            scale = s
+        end
+    end
+    return ag.loadModel(model_name, scale)
+end