diff --git a/app/db_connection.py b/app/db_connection.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ca6ed33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/db_connection.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+"""
+Independent database connection module to prevent circular imports.
+"""
+import logging
+from sqlalchemy import create_engine
+from app.config import settings
+
+# Use local logger to avoid importing app.log (which might create cycles)
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+db_uri = settings.SQLALCHEMY_DB_URI
+engine = create_engine(
+    url = db_uri,
+    echo = False,
+    pool_use_lifo = True,
+    pool_pre_ping = True,
+    pool_recycle = settings.DB['pool_recycle'],
+    isolation_level = 'READ COMMITTED',
+    connect_args = {'connect_timeout': settings.DB['connect_timeout']}
+)
+
+log.info('DB Connection initializing...')
+db = None
+try:
+    db = engine.connect()
+    log.info(f'Connected to database: {db_uri}')
+except Exception:
+    log.exception('Could not connect to database.')
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/lib_id_resolver.py b/app/lib_id_resolver.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9933c0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/lib_id_resolver.py
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+"""
+Centralized ID random to integer ID resolution.
+"""
+import logging
+import datetime
+import random
+import redis
+from app.config import settings
+from app.db_connection import db
+
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+def redis_lookup_id_random(
+        record_id_random: int|str,
+        table_name: str,
+        check_int_id: bool = False,
+        log_lvl: int = logging.WARNING,
+        minutes: int = 30,
+        reset_rate: int = 10,
+        ) -> str|int|bool|None:
+    """
+    Looks up a record ID in Redis, falling back to SQL if not found.
+    Resolves 'id_random' (URL-safe string) to internal integer 'id'.
+    """
+    from app.db_sql import sql_select, get_id_random
+    
+    log.setLevel(log_lvl)
+
+    if isinstance(record_id_random, str) and 11 <= len(record_id_random) <= 22:
+        pass
+    elif isinstance(record_id_random, int):
+        if check_int_id:
+            if get_id_random(record_id=record_id_random, table_name=table_name):
+                return record_id_random
+            return False
+        return record_id_random
+    elif record_id_random is None:
+        return None
+    else:
+        log.error(f'Unexpected data type: {type(record_id_random)}. Expected string (11-22 chars) or int.')
+        return False
+
+    if not table_name:
+        log.error(f'Missing table_name for id_random lookup: {record_id_random}')
+        return False
+
+    r = redis.Redis(host=settings.REDIS['server'], port=settings.REDIS['port'], db=7, password=None, decode_responses=True)
+    key_name = f'{table_name}:{record_id_random}'
+
+    record_id = r.get(key_name)
+
+    # Periodic cache refresh
+    if record_id and random.randint(1, reset_rate) == 1:
+        log.warning(f'Redis: Randomly (1/{reset_rate}) refreshing cache for Key="{key_name}"')
+        record_id = None
+
+    if record_id:
+        r.setex(key_name, datetime.timedelta(minutes=minutes), value=record_id)
+        return int(record_id)
+    else:
+        data = { 'id_random': record_id_random }
+        sql = f"SELECT id FROM `{table_name}` WHERE id_random = :id_random;"
+
+        if select_results := sql_select(sql=sql, data=data):
+            if isinstance(select_results, dict):
+                if rid := select_results.get('id'):
+                    r.setex(key_name, datetime.timedelta(minutes=minutes), value=rid)
+                    return int(rid)
+                log.error('SQL result missing ID field.')
+                return False
+            else:
+                log.error(f'SQL: Duplicate id_random found in "{table_name}". Retrying...')
+                return redis_lookup_id_random(record_id_random=record_id_random, table_name=table_name)
+        else:
+            log.warning(f'SQL: ID Random "{record_id_random}" not found in "{table_name}".')
+            return None
+
+def lookup_id_random_pop(
+        obj_data: dict,
+        log_lvl: int = logging.WARNING,
+        ):
+    """
+    Resolves any *_id_random fields in a dict to their integer IDs and removes the random keys.
+    """
+    log.setLevel(log_lvl)
+    
+    # List of common prefix patterns to resolve
+    id_patterns = [
+        'account', 'activity_log', 'address', 'archive', 'contact', 'cont_edu_cert',
+        'cont_edu_cert_person', 'event', 'event_abstract', 'event_badge',
+        'event_badge_template', 'event_exhibit', 'event_file', 'event_location',
+        'event_person', 'event_person_profile', 'event_presentation',
+        'event_presenter', 'event_registration', 'event_session', 'event_track',
+        'grant', 'hosted_file', 'journal', 'journal_entry', 'membership_group',
+        'membership_person_group', 'membership_person', 'membership_type',
+        'membership_person_type', 'order', 'order_line', 'order_cart',
+        'order_cart_line', 'organization', 'page', 'person', 'post', 'product',
+        'sponsorship', 'sponsorship_cfg', 'site', 'user'
+    ]
+
+    for prefix in id_patterns:
+        key = f'{prefix}_id_random'
+        if key in obj_data:
+            table = prefix
+            if prefix == 'address_location': table = 'address'
+            if prefix in ['contact_1', 'contact_2']: table = 'contact'
+            if prefix == 'event_id_random_only': table = 'event'
+            
+            resolved_id = redis_lookup_id_random(record_id_random=obj_data[key], table_name=table)
+            obj_data[f'{prefix}_id'] = resolved_id
+            obj_data.pop(key)
+
+    # Handle polymorphic link fields
+    polymorphic = [
+        ('for_type', 'for_id_random', 'for_id'),
+        ('link_to_type', 'link_to_id_random', 'link_to_id'),
+        ('object_type', 'object_id_random', 'object_id'),
+        ('to_object_type', 'to_object_id_random', 'to_object_id'),
+        ('from_object_type', 'from_object_id_random', 'from_object_id')
+    ]
+
+    for type_key, rand_key, id_key in polymorphic:
+        if type_key in obj_data and rand_key in obj_data:
+            obj_data[id_key] = redis_lookup_id_random(
+                record_id_random=obj_data[rand_key], 
+                table_name=obj_data[type_key]
+            )
+            obj_data.pop(rand_key)
+
+    return obj_data
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/lib_sql_core.py b/app/lib_sql_core.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3325a6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/lib_sql_core.py
@@ -0,0 +1,281 @@
+"""
+Core SQL CRUD operations and connection management for Aether.
+"""
+import logging
+import json
+from typing import Any, List, Optional
+from sqlalchemy import text, Time
+from sqlalchemy.exc import IntegrityError, OperationalError, ProgrammingError
+
+from app.config import settings
+from app.log import logger_reset
+
+# Local logger to avoid cycles
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+def sql_connect(current_db, log_lvl: int = logging.INFO) -> bool:
+    """Disposes of the current connection pool and prepares for reconnection."""
+    if current_db:
+        current_db.engine.dispose()
+        return True
+    return False
+
+
+def run_sql_select(
+        sql: Any,
+        data: dict|None = None,
+        commit: bool = False,
+        log_lvl: int = logging.WARNING,
+        ) -> Any:
+    """Executes a SQL SELECT statement with retry logic for operational errors."""
+    from app.db_sql import db
+    log.setLevel(log_lvl)
+
+    if not db:
+        log.error('The database connection is not available!!!')
+        return False
+
+    try:
+        if commit: trans = db.begin()
+        sql = sql.columns(recurring_start_time=Time, recurring_end_time=Time)
+        result = db.execute(sql, data) if data else db.execute(sql)
+        if commit: trans.commit()
+        return result
+    except (OperationalError, ProgrammingError) as e:
+        log.error(f'DB Error ({type(e).__name__}). Retrying...')
+        try:
+            if commit: trans = db.begin()
+            result = db.execute(sql, data) if data else db.execute(sql)
+            if commit: trans.commit()
+            return result
+        except Exception:
+            log.exception('Second attempt failed.')
+            return False
+    except Exception:
+        log.exception('Unknown SQL exception.')
+        return False
+
+
+def sql_select(
+        table_name: str|None = None,
+        record_id: int|None = None,
+        record_id_random: str|None = None,
+        field_name: str|None = None,
+        field_value = None,
+        enabled: str|None = None,
+        hidden: str|None = None,
+        qry_dict_li: dict|None = None,
+        fulltext_qry_dict: dict|None = None,
+        and_qry_dict: dict|None = None,
+        and_like_dict: dict|None = None,
+        or_like_dict: dict|None = None,
+        and_in_dict_li: dict|None = None,
+        search_query: Any|None = None,
+        searchable_fields: List[str]|None = None,
+        order_by_li: dict|None = None,
+        limit: int = 9999999,
+        offset: int = 0,
+        sql: str|None = None,
+        data: dict|None = None,
+        as_dict: bool = True,
+        as_list: bool = False,
+        log_lvl: int = logging.WARNING,
+        ) -> Any:
+    """The main entry point for selecting records from the database."""
+    from app.lib_sql_search import (
+        sql_enable_part, sql_hidden_part, sql_search_qry_part, 
+        sql_where_qry_part, sql_fulltext_qry_part, sql_and_qry_part,
+        sql_and_like_part, sql_or_like_part, sql_and_in_dict_li_part
+    )
+    
+    log.setLevel(log_lvl)
+    sql_limit_offset = f'LIMIT {limit} OFFSET {offset}' if limit >= 0 and offset >= 0 else ''
+    
+    sql_order_by = ''
+    if order_by_li and isinstance(order_by_li, dict):
+        order_by_str_li = [f'`{table_name}`.`{k}` {v}' for k, v in order_by_li.items()]
+        sql_order_by = f"ORDER BY {', '.join(order_by_str_li)}"
+
+    if table_name and not (record_id or record_id_random or field_name or field_value or sql or data):
+        data = {}
+        s_en, d_en = sql_enable_part(table_name, enabled) if enabled else ('', None)
+        s_hi, d_hi = sql_hidden_part(table_name, hidden) if hidden else ('', None)
+        if d_en is not None: data['enabled'] = d_en
+        if d_hi is not None: data['hidden'] = d_hi
+        
+        s_search, d_search = ('', {})
+        if search_query:
+            s_search, d_search = sql_search_qry_part(search_query, searchable_fields, table_name=table_name)
+            data.update(d_search)
+
+        query = text(f"SELECT * FROM `{table_name}` WHERE 1=1 {s_search} {s_en} {s_hi} {sql_order_by} {sql_limit_offset};")
+        
+    elif table_name and (record_id or record_id_random) and not (field_name or field_value or sql or data):
+        data = {'rid': record_id} if record_id else {'ridr': record_id_random}
+        where = f"`{table_name}`.id = :rid" if record_id else f"`{table_name}`.id_random = :ridr"
+        query = text(f"SELECT * FROM `{table_name}` WHERE {where} {sql_order_by} {sql_limit_offset};")
+        
+    elif table_name and field_name and field_value and not (record_id or record_id_random or sql or data):
+        data = {field_name: field_value}
+        
+        s_where, d_where = sql_where_qry_part(qry_dict_li) if qry_dict_li else ('', {})
+        s_ft, d_ft = sql_fulltext_qry_part(fulltext_qry_dict) if fulltext_qry_dict else ('', {})
+        s_and, d_and = sql_and_qry_part(and_qry_dict) if and_qry_dict else ('', {})
+        s_alike, d_alike = sql_and_like_part(and_like_dict) if and_like_dict else ('', {})
+        s_olike, d_olike = sql_or_like_part(or_like_dict) if or_like_dict else ('', {})
+        s_in, d_in = sql_and_in_dict_li_part(and_in_dict_li) if and_in_dict_li else ('', {})
+        s_search, d_search = sql_search_qry_part(search_query, searchable_fields, table_name=table_name) if search_query else ('', {})
+        s_en, d_en = sql_enable_part(table_name, enabled) if enabled else ('', None)
+        s_hi, d_hi = sql_hidden_part(table_name, hidden) if hidden else ('', None)
+        
+        data.update(d_where); data.update(d_ft); data.update(d_and); data.update(d_alike)
+        data.update(d_olike); data.update(d_in); data.update(d_search)
+        if d_en is not None: data['enabled'] = d_en
+        if d_hi is not None: data['hidden'] = d_hi
+
+        query = text(f"SELECT * FROM `{table_name}` WHERE `{table_name}`.{field_name} = :{field_name} "
+                     f"{s_where} {s_ft} {s_and} {s_alike} {s_olike} {s_in} {s_search} {s_en} {s_hi} {sql_order_by} {sql_limit_offset};")
+    else:
+        log.warning('No matched parameter combination for sql_select')
+        return False
+
+    result = run_sql_select(sql=query, data=data)
+    if result is False: return False
+    
+    if result.rowcount == 1:
+        record = dict(result.first()) if as_dict else result.first()
+        return [record] if as_list else record
+    elif result.rowcount > 1:
+        records = [dict(r) for record in result.fetchall()] if as_dict else result.fetchall()
+        return records
+    else:
+        return [] if as_list else None
+
+
+def sql_insert(table_name: str, data: dict, log_lvl: int = logging.WARNING) -> Any:
+    """Inserts a new record into the specified table."""
+    from app.db_sql import db
+    from app.lib_redis_helpers import lookup_id_random_pop
+    log.setLevel(log_lvl)
+    
+    data = lookup_id_random_pop(data)
+    if not data.get('id_random'):
+        import secrets
+        data['id_random'] = secrets.token_urlsafe(8)
+
+    fields = [f'`{k}`' for k in data.keys() if k != 'id']
+    placeholders = [f':{k}' for k in data.keys() if k != 'id']
+    
+    for k, v in data.items():
+        if isinstance(v, (dict, list)): data[k] = json.dumps(v)
+
+    query = text(f"INSERT INTO `{table_name}` ({', '.join(fields)}) VALUES ({', '.join(placeholders)});")
+    
+    trans = db.begin()
+    try:
+        result = db.execute(query, data)
+        trans.commit()
+        return result.lastrowid if result.rowcount == 1 else False
+    except Exception:
+        trans.rollback()
+        log.exception('Insert failed.')
+        return False
+
+
+def sql_update(table_name: str, data: dict, record_id: int|None = None, record_id_random: str|None = None, log_lvl: int = logging.WARNING) -> Any:
+    """Updates an existing record in the specified table."""
+    from app.db_sql import db
+    from app.lib_redis_helpers import lookup_id_random_pop
+    log.setLevel(log_lvl)
+    
+    data = lookup_id_random_pop(data)
+    set_clauses = [f"`{k}` = :{k}" for k in data.keys() if k != 'id']
+    
+    for k, v in data.items():
+        if isinstance(v, (dict, list)): data[k] = json.dumps(v)
+
+    if record_id:
+        where = "id = :rid"; data['rid'] = record_id
+    elif record_id_random:
+        where = "id_random = :ridr"; data['ridr'] = record_id_random
+    elif 'id' in data:
+        where = "id = :id"
+    else:
+        return False
+
+    query = text(f"UPDATE `{table_name}` SET {', '.join(set_clauses)} WHERE {where};")
+    
+    trans = db.begin()
+    try:
+        result = db.execute(query, data)
+        trans.commit()
+        return True if result.rowcount >= 1 else None
+    except Exception:
+        trans.rollback()
+        log.exception('Update failed.')
+        return False
+
+
+def sql_delete(table_name: str, record_id: int|None = None, record_id_random: str|None = None, log_lvl: int = logging.INFO) -> Any:
+    """Deletes a record from the specified table."""
+    from app.db_sql import db
+    log.setLevel(log_lvl)
+
+    if record_id:
+        where = "id = :rid"; data = {'rid': record_id}
+    elif record_id_random:
+        where = "id_random = :ridr"; data = {'ridr': record_id_random}
+    else:
+        return False
+
+    query = text(f"DELETE FROM `{table_name}` WHERE {where};")
+    
+    try:
+        result = db.execute(query, data)
+        return True if result.rowcount >= 1 else None
+    except Exception:
+        log.exception('Delete failed.')
+        return False
+
+
+def sql_insert_or_update(
+        table_name: str,
+        data: dict,
+        rm_id_random: bool = False,
+        log_lvl: int = logging.DEBUG,
+        ):
+    """Modularized wrapper for INSERT ... ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE."""
+    from app.db_sql import db
+    from app.lib_redis_helpers import lookup_id_random_pop
+    if not table_name or not data: return False
+    
+    if rm_id_random:
+        data = lookup_id_random_pop(obj_data=data)
+    
+    fields = [f'`{k}`' for k in data.keys() if k != 'id']
+    values = [f':{k}' for k in data.keys() if k != 'id']
+    updates = [f'`{k}` = :{k}' for k in data.keys() if k != 'id']
+    
+    query = text(f"INSERT INTO `{table_name}` ({', '.join(fields)}) VALUES ({', '.join(values)}) "
+                 f"ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE {', '.join(updates)};")
+    
+    trans = db.begin()
+    try:
+        result = db.execute(query, data)
+        trans.commit()
+        return result.lastrowid if result.lastrowid > 0 else True
+    except Exception:
+        trans.rollback()
+        log.exception('sql_insert_or_update failed.')
+        return False
+
+
+def get_account_id_w_for_type_id(for_type: str, for_id: int|str) -> int|bool|None:
+    """Modularized helper to find an account_id associated with an object."""
+    from app.lib_redis_helpers import redis_lookup_id_random
+    from app.db_sql import sql_select
+    if fid := redis_lookup_id_random(record_id_random=for_id, table_name=for_type):
+        sql = f"SELECT account_id FROM `{for_type}` WHERE id = :fid LIMIT 1;"
+        if result := sql_select(sql=sql, data={'fid': fid}):
+            return result.get('account_id')
+    return False