diff --git a/reasoning_gym/data/__init__.py b/reasoning_gym/data/__init__.py
index 435fcb07..dfa6cedf 100644
--- a/reasoning_gym/data/__init__.py
+++ b/reasoning_gym/data/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1,39 @@
 """Package containing data files used by reasoning_gym"""
+
+from importlib import resources
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Union
+
+def get_data_file_path(filename: str) -> Path:
+    """Get the path to a data file in the package.
+    
+    Args:
+        filename: Name of the file in the data directory
+        
+    Returns:
+        Path object pointing to the data file
+        
+    Example:
+        >>> path = get_data_file_path("pg19362.txt")
+        >>> with open(path) as f:
+        ...     content = f.read()
+    """
+    with resources.path('reasoning_gym.data', filename) as data_path:
+        return data_path
+
+def read_data_file(filename: str) -> str:
+    """Read the contents of a data file in the package.
+    
+    Args:
+        filename: Name of the file in the data directory
+        
+    Returns:
+        String contents of the file
+        
+    Example:
+        >>> content = read_data_file("pg19362.txt")
+    """
+    with resources.open_text('reasoning_gym.data', filename) as f:
+        return f.read()
+
+__all__ = ['get_data_file_path', 'read_data_file']