Using common functions in multiple models

[eluser]veliscorin[/eluser]
Hi guys,

I currently have several models, each with similar functions like so:

Code:

user_model->get_user_by_id($id);
book_model->get_book_by_id($id);
receipt_model->get_receipt_by_id($id);

Since they are all similar functions and return similar data, I wish to do it in such a way that I do not have to repeat these code in subsequent newer models that I create. I was thinking of doing it such a way that I shall have something like this:

Code:

some_generic_name->get_single_row($table_name, $id);

So that in my different controllers, I could use something like this:

Code:

$user = $this->some_generic_name->get_single_row('tbl_users', '1');
//or
$book = $this->some_generic_name->get_single_row('tbl_books', '1');

Is there a way to do this? Or am I not going in the direction that things are supposed to be done...

Many thanks in advance to the community =)