diff --git a/tailbone/api/auth.py b/tailbone/api/auth.py
index 0fbe8b82..4306da78 100644
--- a/tailbone/api/auth.py
+++ b/tailbone/api/auth.py
@@ -35,17 +35,6 @@ from tailbone.auth import login_user, logout_user
 
 class AuthenticationView(APIView):
 
-    def user_info(self, user):
-        return {
-            'ok': True,
-            'user': {
-                'uuid': user.uuid,
-                'username': user.username,
-                'display_name': user.display_name,
-                'short_name': user.get_short_name(),
-            },
-        }
-
     @api
     def check_session(self):
         """
@@ -55,9 +44,7 @@ class AuthenticationView(APIView):
         """
         data = {'ok': True}
         if self.request.user:
-            data = self.user_info(self.request.user)
-            data['user']['is_admin'] = self.request.is_admin
-            data['user']['is_root'] = self.request.is_root
+            data['user'] = self.get_user_info(self.request.user)
 
         data['permissions'] = list(self.request.tailbone_cached_permissions)
 
@@ -94,7 +81,10 @@ class AuthenticationView(APIView):
             return {'error': error}
 
         login_user(self.request, user)
-        return self.user_info(user)
+        return {
+            'ok': True,
+            'user': self.get_user_info(user),
+        }
 
     def authenticate_user(self, username, password):
         return authenticate_user(Session(), username, password)
@@ -130,7 +120,10 @@ class AuthenticationView(APIView):
             raise self.forbidden()
         self.request.user.record_event(self.enum.USER_EVENT_BECOME_ROOT)
         self.request.session['is_root'] = True
-        return self.user_info(self.request.user)
+        return {
+            'ok': True,
+            'user': self.get_user_info(self.request.user),
+        }
 
     @api
     def stop_root(self):
@@ -141,7 +134,10 @@ class AuthenticationView(APIView):
             raise self.forbidden()
         self.request.user.record_event(self.enum.USER_EVENT_STOP_ROOT)
         self.request.session['is_root'] = False
-        return self.user_info(self.request.user)
+        return {
+            'ok': True,
+            'user': self.get_user_info(self.request.user),
+        }
 
     @classmethod
     def defaults(cls, config):
diff --git a/tailbone/api/core.py b/tailbone/api/core.py
index f129ec82..f263450b 100644
--- a/tailbone/api/core.py
+++ b/tailbone/api/core.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  Rattail -- Retail Software Framework
-#  Copyright © 2010-2018 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2010-2020 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Rattail.
 #
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ Tailbone Web API - Core Views
 
 from __future__ import unicode_literals, absolute_import
 
+from rattail.util import load_object
+
 from tailbone.views import View
 
 
@@ -68,3 +70,54 @@ class APIView(View):
         if not dt:
             return ""
         return dt.strftime('%Y-%m-%d @ %I:%M %p')
+
+    def get_user_info(self, user):
+        """
+        This method is present on *all* API views, and is meant to provide a
+        single means of obtaining "common" user info, for return to the caller.
+        Such info may be returned in several places, e.g. upon login but also
+        in the "check session" call, or e.g. as part of a broader return value
+        from any other call.
+
+        :returns: Dictionary of user info data, ready for JSON serialization. 
+
+        Note that you should *not* (usually) override this method in any view,
+        but instead configure a "supplemental" function which can then add or
+        replace info entries.  Config for that looks like e.g.:
+
+        .. code-block:: ini
+
+           [tailbone.api]
+           extra_user_info = poser.web.api.util:extra_user_info
+
+        Note that the above config assumes a simple *function* defined in your
+        ``util`` module; such a function would look like e.g.::
+
+           def extra_user_info(request, user, **info):
+               # add favorite color
+               info['favorite_color'] = 'green'
+               # override display name
+               info['display_name'] = "TODO"
+               # remove short_name
+               info.pop('short_name', None)
+               return info
+        """
+        # basic / default info
+        is_admin = user.is_admin()
+        info = {
+            'uuid': user.uuid,
+            'username': user.username,
+            'display_name': user.display_name,
+            'short_name': user.get_short_name(),
+            'is_admin': is_admin,
+            'is_root': is_admin and self.request.session.get('is_root', False),
+        }
+
+        # maybe get/use "extra" info
+        extra = self.rattail_config.get('tailbone.api', 'extra_user_info',
+                                        usedb=False)
+        if extra:
+            extra = load_object(extra)
+            info = extra(self.request, user, **info)
+
+        return info