diff --git a/i3pystatus/core/desktop.py b/i3pystatus/core/desktop.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a22b65b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/i3pystatus/core/desktop.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+
+from gi.repository import Notify
+
+if not Notify.init("i3pystatus"):
+    raise ImportError("Couldn't initialize libnotify")
+
+URGENCY_LUT = (
+    Notify.Urgency.LOW,
+    Notify.Urgency.NORMAL,
+    Notify.Urgency.CRITICAL,
+)
+
+# List of some useful icon names:
+# battery, battery-caution, battery-low
+# …
+
+def display_notification(title, body, icon="dialog-information", urgency=1, timeout=0):
+    notification = Notify.Notification.new(title, body, icon)
+    if timeout:
+        notification.set_timeout(timeout)
+    notification.set_urgency(URGENCY_LUT[urgency])
+    return notification.show()