diff --git a/src/layer.cpp b/src/layer.cpp
index fc4efec47..f6d8ae42a 100644
--- a/src/layer.cpp
+++ b/src/layer.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ namespace mapnik
     Layer::Layer()
         : params_(),
           name_("unknown"),
+          title_(""),
+          abstract_(""),
           minZoom_(0),
           maxZoom_(std::numeric_limits<double>::max()),
           active_(true),
@@ -47,6 +49,8 @@ namespace mapnik
     Layer::Layer(const parameters& params)
         :params_(params),
          name_(params_["name"]),
+         title_(params_["title"]),
+         abstract_(params_["abstract"]),
          minZoom_(0),
          maxZoom_(std::numeric_limits<double>::max()),
          active_(true),
@@ -55,15 +59,17 @@ namespace mapnik
     {}
     
     Layer::Layer(const Layer& rhs)
-        : params_(rhs.params_),
-          name_(rhs.name_),
-          minZoom_(rhs.minZoom_),
-          maxZoom_(rhs.maxZoom_),
-          active_(rhs.active_),
-          selectable_(rhs.selectable_),
-          styles_(rhs.styles_),
-          selection_style_(rhs.selection_style_), 
-          ds_(rhs.ds_)  {}
+        :params_(rhs.params_),
+         name_(rhs.name_),
+         title_(rhs.title_),
+         abstract_(rhs.abstract_),
+         minZoom_(rhs.minZoom_),
+         maxZoom_(rhs.maxZoom_),
+         active_(rhs.active_),
+         selectable_(rhs.selectable_),
+         ds_(rhs.ds_),
+         styles_(rhs.styles_),
+         selection_style_(rhs.selection_style_) {}
     
     Layer& Layer::operator=(const Layer& rhs)
     {
@@ -81,11 +87,13 @@ namespace mapnik
     {
         params_=rhs.params_;
         name_=rhs.name_;
+        title_=rhs.title_;
+        abstract_=rhs.abstract_;
         minZoom_=rhs.minZoom_;
         maxZoom_=rhs.maxZoom_;
         active_=rhs.active_;
         selectable_=rhs.selectable_;
-        ds_=rhs.ds_;
+        //ds_=rhs.ds_;
         styles_=rhs.styles_;
         selection_style_=rhs.selection_style_;
     }
@@ -107,6 +115,26 @@ namespace mapnik
         return name_;
     }
 
+    void Layer::set_title( std::string const& title)
+    {
+        title_ = title;
+    }
+ 
+    string const& Layer::title() const
+    {
+        return title_;
+    }
+
+    void Layer::set_abstract( std::string const& abstract)
+    {
+        abstract_ = abstract;
+    }
+ 
+    string const& Layer::abstract() const
+    {
+        return abstract_;
+    }
+
     void Layer::add_style(std::string const& stylename)
     {
         styles_.push_back(stylename);