diff --git a/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew.i b/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew.i
index ee6de535e4..1c194b3662 100644
--- a/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew.i
+++ b/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew.i
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ class BASE_SET {};
 #include <exporters/gerber_jobfile_writer.h>
 
 BOARD *GetBoard(); /* get current editor board */
+wxArrayString GetFootprintLibraries();
+wxArrayString GetFootprints(const wxString& aNickName);
 %}
 
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_scripting_helpers.cpp b/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_scripting_helpers.cpp
index 6223367def..9e846eccff 100644
--- a/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_scripting_helpers.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_scripting_helpers.cpp
@@ -34,12 +34,14 @@
 #include <build_version.h>
 #include <class_board.h>
 #include <cstdlib>
+#include <fp_lib_table.h>
 #include <io_mgr.h>
 #include <kicad_string.h>
 #include <macros.h>
 #include <pcb_draw_panel_gal.h>
 #include <pcbnew.h>
 #include <pcbnew_scripting_helpers.h>
+#include <project.h>
 
 static PCB_EDIT_FRAME* s_PcbEditFrame = NULL;
 
@@ -105,6 +107,53 @@ bool SaveBoard( wxString& aFileName, BOARD* aBoard )
 }
 
 
+FP_LIB_TABLE* GetFootprintLibraryTable()
+{
+    BOARD* board = GetBoard();
+
+    if( !board )
+        return nullptr;
+
+    PROJECT* project = board->GetProject();
+
+    if( !project )
+        return nullptr;
+
+    return project->PcbFootprintLibs();
+}
+
+
+wxArrayString GetFootprintLibraries()
+{
+    wxArrayString footprintLibraryNames;
+
+    FP_LIB_TABLE* tbl = GetFootprintLibraryTable();
+
+    if( !tbl )
+        return footprintLibraryNames;
+
+    for( const wxString& name : tbl->GetLogicalLibs() )
+        footprintLibraryNames.Add( name );
+
+    return footprintLibraryNames;
+}
+
+
+wxArrayString GetFootprints( const wxString& aNickName )
+{
+    wxArrayString footprintNames;
+
+    FP_LIB_TABLE* tbl = GetFootprintLibraryTable();
+
+    if( !tbl )
+        return footprintNames;
+
+    tbl->FootprintEnumerate( footprintNames, aNickName, true );
+
+    return footprintNames;
+}
+
+
 bool ExportSpecctraDSN( wxString& aFullFilename )
 {
     if( s_PcbEditFrame )
diff --git a/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_scripting_helpers.h b/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_scripting_helpers.h
index 7bc7d48382..2c341943a6 100644
--- a/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_scripting_helpers.h
+++ b/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_scripting_helpers.h
@@ -49,6 +49,21 @@ BOARD*  LoadBoard( wxString& aFileName );
 // so no option to choose the file format.
 bool    SaveBoard( wxString& aFileName, BOARD* aBoard );
 
+/**
+ * will get the nicknames of all of the footprint libraries configured in
+ * pcbnew in both the project and global library tables
+ * @return the list of footprint library nicknames, empty on error
+ */
+wxArrayString GetFootprintLibraries();
+
+/**
+ * will get the names of all of the footprints available in a footprint library
+ * @param aNickName is the nickname specifying which footprint library to fetch
+ * from
+ * @return the list of footprint names, empty on error
+ */
+wxArrayString GetFootprints( const wxString& aNickName );
+
 /**
  * will export the current BOARD to a specctra dsn file.
  * See http://www.autotraxeda.com/docs/SPECCTRA/SPECCTRA.pdf for the