diff --git a/pandora/annotation/models.py b/pandora/annotation/models.py
index 275446768..461691e39 100644
--- a/pandora/annotation/models.py
+++ b/pandora/annotation/models.py
@@ -8,6 +8,21 @@ import ox
 
 import utils
 
+
+def load_layers(layers):
+    for l in layers:
+        create_or_update_layer(l)
+
+def create_or_update_layer(data):
+    layer, created = Layer.objects.get_or_create(name=data['id'])
+    for key in ('title', 'type', 'overlap', 'overlay', 'private'):
+        if key in data and getattr(layer, key) != data[key]:
+            setattr(layer, key, data[key])
+            created = True
+    if created:
+        layer.save()
+    return layer
+
 class Layer(models.Model):
 
     class Meta:
@@ -26,7 +41,7 @@ class Layer(models.Model):
 
     overlap = models.BooleanField(default=True)
     overlay = models.BooleanField(default=True)
-    public = models.BooleanField(default=True)   #false=users only see there own bins
+    private = models.BooleanField(default=False)   #false=users only see there own bins
 
     #find/sort integration
     find = models.BooleanField(default=True) #true part of find all
@@ -42,7 +57,13 @@ class Layer(models.Model):
         return p
 
     def json(self):
-        return {'id': self.name, 'title': self.title, 'type': self.type}
+        return {
+            'id': self.name,
+            'overlap': self.overlap,
+            'private': self.private,
+            'title': self.title,
+            'type': self.type
+        }
 
     def __unicode__(self):
         return self.title
diff --git a/pandora/annotation/views.py b/pandora/annotation/views.py
index c87af88e8..c60266c04 100644
--- a/pandora/annotation/views.py
+++ b/pandora/annotation/views.py
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@ from ox.utils import json
 from ox.django.decorators import login_required_json
 from ox.django.shortcuts import render_to_json_response, get_object_or_404_json, json_response
 
-import models
-from item.models import Item
 
+from app.models import site_config
+from item.models import Item
 from api.actions import actions
 
+import models
+
 
 def findAnnotations(request):
     '''
@@ -56,6 +58,9 @@ def addAnnotation(request):
             return render_to_json_response(json_response(status=400,
                                                          text='invalid data'))
 
+    #FIXME: this should be only called starting up server
+    models.load_layers(site_config()['layers'])
+
     item = get_object_or_404_json(Item, itemId=data['item'])
     layer = get_object_or_404_json(models.Layer, name=data['layer'])
 
diff --git a/pandora/item/models.py b/pandora/item/models.py
index 30373a777..94af172a3 100644
--- a/pandora/item/models.py
+++ b/pandora/item/models.py
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ class Item(models.Model):
                 stream['formats'] = list(set(map(lambda s: os.path.splitext(s['profile'])[1][1:], self.streams.all().values('profile'))))
         return stream
 
-    def get_layers(self):
+    def get_layers(self, user=None):
         layers = {}
         layers['subtitles'] = [] 
         #FIXME: should subtitles be stored in Annotation?
@@ -345,7 +345,12 @@ class Item(models.Model):
             layers['subtitles'] = qs[0].srt()
         for l in Layer.objects.all():
             ll = layers.setdefault(l.name, [])
-            for a in Annotation.objects.filter(layer=l, item=self).order_by('start'):
+            qs = Annotation.objects.filter(layer=l, item=self)
+            if l.private:
+                if user.is_anonymous():
+                    user = None
+                qs = qs.filter(user=user)
+            for a in qs.order_by('start'):
                 ll.append(a.json())
         return layers
 
@@ -863,7 +868,6 @@ for key in filter(lambda k: 'columnWidth' in k, config['itemKeys']):
 ItemSort = type('ItemSort', (models.Model,), attrs)
 ItemSort.fields = [f.name for f in ItemSort._meta.fields]
 
-
 class Access(models.Model):
     class Meta:
         unique_together = ("item", "user")
diff --git a/pandora/item/views.py b/pandora/item/views.py
index 25817d628..5a4c08430 100644
--- a/pandora/item/views.py
+++ b/pandora/item/views.py
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ def getItem(request):
     if item.access(request.user):
         info = item.get_json()
         info['stream'] = item.get_stream()
-        info['layers'] = item.get_layers()
+        info['layers'] = item.get_layers(request.user)
         response['data']['item'] = info
     else:
         response = json_response(status=403, text='permission denied')