diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index 1f54588..5c9884e 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@
 # https://wiki.duraspace.org/display/DSPACE/Solr
 
 from config import SOLR_CORE
-from database import database_connection
+from database import database_connection_ro
 import falcon
 from solr import solr_connection
 
-db = database_connection()
+db = database_connection_ro()
 solr = solr_connection()
 
 class ItemResource:
diff --git a/database.py b/database.py
index fa5ed53..392bb97 100644
--- a/database.py
+++ b/database.py
@@ -1,11 +1,18 @@
 from config import SQLITE_DB
 import sqlite3
 
-def database_connection():
+def database_connection_rw():
     connection = sqlite3.connect(SQLITE_DB)
     # allow iterating over row results by column key
     connection.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
 
     return connection
 
+def database_connection_ro():
+    connection = sqlite3.connect('file:{0}?mode=ro'.format(SQLITE_DB), uri=True)
+    # allow iterating over row results by column key
+    connection.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
+
+    return connection
+
 # vim: set sw=4 ts=4 expandtab:
diff --git a/indexer.py b/indexer.py
index 2e50e11..c1a0b42 100755
--- a/indexer.py
+++ b/indexer.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 # https://wiki.duraspace.org/display/DSPACE/Solr
 
 from config import SOLR_CORE
-from database import database_connection
+from database import database_connection_rw
 from solr import solr_connection
 
 def index_views():
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ def index_downloads():
 
         results_current_page += 1
 
-db = database_connection()
+db = database_connection_rw()
 solr = solr_connection()
 
 # use separate views and downloads tables so we can REPLACE INTO carelessly (ie, item may have views but no downloads)