diff --git a/basis/alien/libraries/libraries-docs.factor b/basis/alien/libraries/libraries-docs.factor
index 55537890b8..bface7f45a 100755
--- a/basis/alien/libraries/libraries-docs.factor
+++ b/basis/alien/libraries/libraries-docs.factor
@@ -45,10 +45,12 @@ HELP: load-library
 
 HELP: add-library
 { $values { "name" string } { "path" string } { "abi" "one of " { $snippet "\"cdecl\"" } " or " { $snippet "\"stdcall\"" } } }
-{ $description "Defines a new logical library named " { $snippet "name" } " located in the file system at " { $snippet "path" } "and the specified ABI." }
-{ $notes "Because the entire source file is parsed before top-level forms are executed, " { $link add-library } " cannot be used in the same file as " { $link POSTPONE: FUNCTION: } " definitions from that library. The " { $link add-library } " call will happen too late, after compilation, and the alien calls will not work."
+{ $description "Defines a new logical library named " { $snippet "name" } " located in the file system at " { $snippet "path" } " and the specified ABI. The logical library name can then be used by a " { $link POSTPONE: LIBRARY: } " form to specify the logical library for subsequent " { $link POSTPONE: FUNCTION: } " definitions." }
+{ $notes "Because the entire source file is parsed before top-level forms are executed, " { $link add-library } " must be placed within a " { $snippet "<< ... >>" } " parse-time evaluation block."
 $nl
-"Instead, " { $link add-library } " calls must either be placed in different source files from those that use that library, or alternatively, " { $link "syntax-immediate" } " can be used to load the library before compilation." }
+"This ensures that if the logical library is later used in the same file, for example by a " { $link POSTPONE: FUNCTION: } " definition. Otherwise, the " { $link add-library } " call will happen too late, after compilation, and the C function calls will not refer to the correct library."
+$nl
+"For details about parse-time evaluation, see " { $link "syntax-immediate" } "." }
 { $examples "Here is a typical usage of " { $link add-library } ":"
 { $code
     "<< \"freetype\" {"
diff --git a/basis/alien/syntax/syntax-docs.factor b/basis/alien/syntax/syntax-docs.factor
index 0021c2cdee..a8d3048b82 100644
--- a/basis/alien/syntax/syntax-docs.factor
+++ b/basis/alien/syntax/syntax-docs.factor
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 IN: alien.syntax
-USING: alien alien.c-types alien.parser classes.struct help.markup help.syntax see ;
+USING: alien alien.c-types alien.parser alien.libraries
+classes.struct help.markup help.syntax see ;
 
 HELP: DLL"
 { $syntax "DLL\" path\"" }
@@ -21,7 +22,8 @@ ARTICLE: "syntax-aliens" "Alien object literal syntax"
 HELP: LIBRARY:
 { $syntax "LIBRARY: name" }
 { $values { "name" "a logical library name" } }
-{ $description "Sets the logical library for consequent " { $link POSTPONE: FUNCTION: } " definitions that follow." } ;
+{ $description "Sets the logical library for consequent " { $link POSTPONE: FUNCTION: } ", " { $link POSTPONE: C-GLOBAL: } " and " { $link POSTPONE: CALLBACK: } " definitions, as well as " { $link POSTPONE: &: } " forms." }
+{ $notes "Logical library names are defined with the " { $link add-library } " word." } ;
 
 HELP: FUNCTION:
 { $syntax "FUNCTION: return name ( parameters )" }
@@ -96,21 +98,26 @@ HELP: CALLBACK:
 
 HELP: &:
 { $syntax "&: symbol" }
-{ $values { "symbol" "A C library symbol name" } }
+{ $values { "symbol" "A C global variable name" } }
 { $description "Pushes the address of a symbol named " { $snippet "symbol" } " from the current library, set with " { $link POSTPONE: LIBRARY: } "." } ;
 
 HELP: typedef
-{ $values { "old" "a string" } { "new" "a string" } }
+{ $values { "old" "a C type" } { "new" "a C type" } }
 { $description "Aliases the C type " { $snippet "old" } " under the name " { $snippet "new" } "." }
 { $notes "Using this word in the same source file which defines C bindings can cause problems, because words are compiled before top-level forms are run. Use the " { $link POSTPONE: TYPEDEF: } " word instead." } ;
 
 { POSTPONE: TYPEDEF: typedef } related-words
 
 HELP: c-struct?
-{ $values { "c-type" "a C type name" } { "?" "a boolean" } }
+{ $values { "c-type" "a C type" } { "?" "a boolean" } }
 { $description "Tests if a C type is a structure defined by " { $link POSTPONE: STRUCT: } "." } ;
 
 HELP: define-function
 { $values { "return" "a C return type" } { "library" "a logical library name" } { "function" "a C function name" } { "parameters" "a sequence of C parameter types" } }
 { $description "Defines a word named " { $snippet "function" } " in the current vocabulary (see " { $link "vocabularies" } "). The word calls " { $link alien-invoke } " with the specified parameters." }
 { $notes "This word is used to implement the " { $link POSTPONE: FUNCTION: } " parsing word." } ;
+
+HELP: C-GLOBAL:
+{ $syntax "C-GLOBAL: type name" }
+{ $values { "type" "a C type" } { "name" "a C global variable name" } }
+{ $description "Defines a new word named " { $snippet "name" } " which accesses a global variable in the current library, set with " { $link POSTPONE: LIBRARY: } "." } ;
diff --git a/basis/alien/syntax/syntax.factor b/basis/alien/syntax/syntax.factor
index 303a3914cb..7adf837841 100644
--- a/basis/alien/syntax/syntax.factor
+++ b/basis/alien/syntax/syntax.factor
@@ -38,3 +38,12 @@ ERROR: no-such-symbol name library ;
 
 SYNTAX: &:
     scan "c-library" get '[ _ _ address-of ] over push-all ;
+
+: global-quot ( type word -- quot )
+    name>> "c-library" get '[ _ _ address-of 0 ]
+    swap c-type-getter-boxer append ;
+
+: define-global ( type word -- )
+    [ nip ] [ global-quot ] 2bi (( -- value )) define-declared ;
+
+SYNTAX: C-GLOBAL: scan-c-type CREATE-WORD define-global ;
diff --git a/basis/core-text/core-text.factor b/basis/core-text/core-text.factor
index 99849c1666..3459b368f7 100644
--- a/basis/core-text/core-text.factor
+++ b/basis/core-text/core-text.factor
@@ -6,19 +6,19 @@ math.order math.vectors math.rectangles math.functions locals init
 namespaces combinators fonts colors cache core-foundation
 core-foundation.strings core-foundation.attributed-strings
 core-foundation.utilities core-graphics core-graphics.types
-core-text.fonts core-text.utilities ;
+core-text.fonts ;
 IN: core-text
 
 TYPEDEF: void* CTLineRef
 
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontAttributeName
-C-GLOBAL: kCTKernAttributeName
-C-GLOBAL: kCTLigatureAttributeName
-C-GLOBAL: kCTForegroundColorAttributeName
-C-GLOBAL: kCTParagraphStyleAttributeName
-C-GLOBAL: kCTUnderlineStyleAttributeName
-C-GLOBAL: kCTVerticalFormsAttributeName
-C-GLOBAL: kCTGlyphInfoAttributeName
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontAttributeName
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTKernAttributeName
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTLigatureAttributeName
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTForegroundColorAttributeName
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTParagraphStyleAttributeName
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTUnderlineStyleAttributeName
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTVerticalFormsAttributeName
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTGlyphInfoAttributeName
 
 FUNCTION: CTLineRef CTLineCreateWithAttributedString ( CFAttributedStringRef string ) ;
 
diff --git a/basis/core-text/fonts/fonts.factor b/basis/core-text/fonts/fonts.factor
index 6e85c94909..5c57034632 100644
--- a/basis/core-text/fonts/fonts.factor
+++ b/basis/core-text/fonts/fonts.factor
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ! See http://factorcode.org/license.txt for BSD license.
 USING: accessors alien.c-types alien.syntax assocs core-foundation
 core-foundation.dictionaries core-foundation.strings
-core-graphics.types core-text.utilities destructors init
+core-graphics.types destructors init
 kernel math memoize fonts combinators unix.types ;
 IN: core-text.fonts
 
@@ -18,28 +18,28 @@ TYPEDEF: void* CTFontDescriptorRef
 : kCTFontVerticalTrait ( -- n ) 11 2^ ; inline
 : kCTFontUIOptimizedTrait ( -- n ) 12 2^ ; inline
 
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontSymbolicTrait
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontWeightTrait
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontWidthTrait
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontSlantTrait
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontSymbolicTrait
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontWeightTrait
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontWidthTrait
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontSlantTrait
 
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontNameAttribute
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontDisplayNameAttribute
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontFamilyNameAttribute
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontStyleNameAttribute
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontTraitsAttribute
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontVariationAttribute
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontSizeAttribute
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontMatrixAttribute
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontCascadeListAttribute
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontCharacterSetAttribute
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontLanguagesAttribute
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontBaselineAdjustAttribute
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontMacintoshEncodingsAttribute
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontFeaturesAttribute
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontFeatureSettingsAttribute
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontFixedAdvanceAttribute
-C-GLOBAL: kCTFontOrientationAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontNameAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontDisplayNameAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontFamilyNameAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontStyleNameAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontTraitsAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontVariationAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontSizeAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontMatrixAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontCascadeListAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontCharacterSetAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontLanguagesAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontBaselineAdjustAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontMacintoshEncodingsAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontFeaturesAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontFeatureSettingsAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontFixedAdvanceAttribute
+C-GLOBAL: CFStringRef kCTFontOrientationAttribute
 
 FUNCTION: CTFontDescriptorRef CTFontDescriptorCreateWithAttributes (
    CFDictionaryRef attributes
diff --git a/basis/core-text/utilities/authors.txt b/basis/core-text/utilities/authors.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index d4f5d6b3ae..0000000000
--- a/basis/core-text/utilities/authors.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Slava Pestov
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/basis/core-text/utilities/utilities.factor b/basis/core-text/utilities/utilities.factor
deleted file mode 100644
index d3b1352750..0000000000
--- a/basis/core-text/utilities/utilities.factor
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-! Copyright (C) 2009 Slava Pestov.
-! See http://factorcode.org/license.txt for BSD license.
-USING: words parser alien alien.c-types kernel fry accessors
-alien.libraries ;
-IN: core-text.utilities
-
-SYNTAX: C-GLOBAL:
-    CREATE-WORD
-    dup name>> '[ _ f dlsym *void* ]
-    (( -- value )) define-declared ;
diff --git a/core/alien/alien-docs.factor b/core/alien/alien-docs.factor
index 42f37936e3..3f91b7102f 100644
--- a/core/alien/alien-docs.factor
+++ b/core/alien/alien-docs.factor
@@ -192,6 +192,13 @@ ARTICLE: "alien-callback" "Calling Factor from C"
 { $subsections "alien-callback-gc" }
 { $see-also "byte-arrays-gc" } ;
 
+ARTICLE: "alien-globals" "Accessing C global variables"
+"The " { $vocab-link "alien.syntax" } " vocabulary defines two parsing words for accessing the value of a global variable, and get the address of a global variable, respectively."
+{ $subsections
+    POSTPONE: C-GLOBAL:
+    POSTPONE: &:
+} ;
+
 ARTICLE: "dll.private" "DLL handles"
 "DLL handles are a built-in class of objects which represent loaded native libraries. DLL handles are instances of the " { $link dll } " class, and have a literal syntax used for debugging prinouts; see " { $link "syntax-aliens" } "."
 $nl
@@ -281,6 +288,7 @@ $nl
     "alien-callback"
     "c-data"
     "classes.struct"
+    "alien-globals"
     "dll.private"
     "embedding"
 } ;
diff --git a/extra/curses/ffi/ffi.factor b/extra/curses/ffi/ffi.factor
index 9a5802e73e..a9edc2e92b 100644
--- a/extra/curses/ffi/ffi.factor
+++ b/extra/curses/ffi/ffi.factor
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ! Copyright (C) 2008 Doug Coleman.
 ! See http://factorcode.org/license.txt for BSD license.
 USING: accessors alien alien.syntax combinators kernel system
-alien.libraries classes.struct ;
+alien.c-types alien.libraries classes.struct unix.types ;
 IN: curses.ffi
 
 << "curses" {
@@ -74,8 +74,7 @@ STRUCT: c-window
 
 LIBRARY: curses
 
-: stdscr ( -- alien )
-    "stdscr" "curses" library dll>> dlsym ;
+C-GLOBAL: void* stdscr
 
 FUNCTION: WINDOW* initscr ( ) ;
 FUNCTION: int endwin ( ) ;