diff --git a/image_readers/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/imagereaders/ImageReaderFactory.java b/image_readers/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/imagereaders/ImageReaderFactory.java
index e52b6f7540d55c6d4e3162989389eb78e49fdcc7..0ab3c8d4b38b8ca2289a25a15b36f43e9f0a032d 100644
--- a/image_readers/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/imagereaders/ImageReaderFactory.java
+++ b/image_readers/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/imagereaders/ImageReaderFactory.java
@@ -67,6 +67,14 @@ public class ImageReaderFactory
         libraries = CollectionUtils.asList(librariesIterator);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the list of image reader libraries configured.
+     */
+    public static List<IImageReaderLibrary> getLibraries()
+    {
+        return libraries;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Returns an {@link IImageReader} for specified library name and reader name. Can return
      * <code>null</code> if no matching reader is found.
@@ -138,11 +146,4 @@ public class ImageReaderFactory
         libraries = newLibraries;
     }
     
-    /**
-     * used only for testing purposes.
-     */
-    static List<IImageReaderLibrary> getLibraries()
-    {
-        return libraries;
-    }
 }