diff --git a/src/personal_mcp/utils.py b/src/personal_mcp/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0399ec1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/personal_mcp/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+import logging
+from pathlib import Path
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+_FILE_CACHE: dict[Path, tuple[int, str]] = {}
+
+
+def read_file(path: Path) -> str:
+    new_ts = path.stat().st_mtime_ns
+    match _FILE_CACHE.get(path):
+        case (int(timestamp), str(content)) if timestamp == new_ts:
+            return content
+        case _:
+            with path.open("r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+                logger.info("Loading file %s", path)
+                content = f.read()
+
+            _FILE_CACHE[path] = (new_ts, content)
+            return content