Global functions

[eluser]cahva[/eluser]
If you're sending $data to view:

Code:

$data['variable_name'] = 'Foo';

$this->load->view('layout',$data);

..then you would reference it as $variable_name in the view.

EDIT: misread sorry. You ofcourse have to send the $data to your lib or model.
BTW, If you need some information in almost every page, you should concider MY_Controller technique where you extend from that. Or even better, take advantage of autoloading classes in PHP5 and use technique described here by Phil Sturgeon.