diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index d84e7b8..2e2fbaf 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -111,6 +111,10 @@ impl Reader {
             Err(Error::RwLock)
         }
     }
+
+    pub fn get_raw_reader(&self) -> &RwLock<c2pa::Reader>{
+      &self.reader
+    }
 }
 
 pub struct Builder {