diff --git a/lib/host/stats.go b/lib/host/stats.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f9189f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/host/stats.go
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+package host
+
+import "git.staur.ca/stobbsm/clustvirt/lib/stats"
+
+// CollectMemUsage sends the current used memory of the host
+// over the given channel
+func (h *Host) CollectMemUsage(u chan<- stats.StatValue) error {
+	
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/lib/stats/stats.go b/lib/stats/stats.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..507202e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/stats/stats.go
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+package stats
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"time"
+
+	"golang.org/x/exp/constraints"
+)
+
+type Number interface {
+	constraints.Integer | constraints.Float
+}
+
+// StatFetcher represents a data collector. It is given a channel to send a Number
+// to, being the metric that is being collected.
+type StatFetcher[T Number] func(chan<- Stat[T])
+
+// StatFetcherList is a map of collector types, where the key is the label to use
+// for the statistic
+type StatFetcherList[T Number] map[string]StatFetcher[T]
+
+// StatProvider is something that has the Stats method and provides stats
+type StatProvider[T Number] interface {
+	Stats() StatFetcherList[T]
+}
+
+// StatCollector is something that has the Collect method, recieving a StatProvider to collect from
+type StatCollector[T Number] interface {
+	Collect(StatProvider[T])
+}
+
+// Stat represents a single statistic
+type Stat[T Number] struct {
+	Name  string
+	Value T
+}
+
+// StatsCollector controls running stats
+type StatsCollector[T Number] struct {
+	ctx        context.Context
+	ctxCancel  context.CancelFunc
+	collectors StatFetcherList[T]
+	interval   time.Duration
+	rchan      chan Stat[T]
+	running    bool
+}
+
+// AddCollector adds a collector to the existing list of collectors. If `name` is already defined,
+// will return an error but still replace the collector. If the StatsCollector is running, it is restarted.
+func (sc *StatsCollector[T]) AddCollector(name string, collector StatFetcher[T], restart bool) error {
+	var err error
+	if _, ok := sc.collectors[name]; !ok {
+		err = fmt.Errorf("replacing collector %s", name)
+	}
+	sc.collectors[name] = collector
+	if sc.IsRunning() {
+		sc.Restart()
+	}
+	return err
+}
+
+// MergeCollectors is a utility function to merge a Collectors map with another one, allowing for
+// better localization of code and avoiding repeating the same function all over the place when
+// an object with Collector functions wants to add them
+func (sc *StatsCollector[T]) MergeCollectors(collectors StatFetcherList[T]) error {
+	var errList []error
+	for k, c := range collectors {
+		errList = append(errList, sc.AddCollector(k, c, false))
+	}
+	sc.Restart()
+	return errors.Join(errList...)
+}
+
+// Collect satisfys the StatCollector interface. It is given a StatProvider, and those stats are then
+// merged with the existing providers, running on the same interval
+func (sc *StatsCollector[T]) Collect(sp StatProvider[T]) {
+	sc.MergeCollectors(sp.Stats())
+}
+
+// IsRunning is a utility function that returns true if the StatsCollector is running
+func (sc *StatsCollector[T]) IsRunning() bool { return sc.running }
+
+// RunningStats returns a channel of type Stat, and receives a context and a list
+// of collectors that get run every 'd' duration
+func (sc *StatsCollector[T]) Start() {
+	sc.ctx, sc.ctxCancel = context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	sc.rchan = make(chan Stat[T])
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(sc.interval)
+
+	// start the goroutine that does the actual work
+	go func() {
+		defer func() { sc.running = false }()
+		select {
+		case <-sc.ctx.Done():
+			return
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			for _, f := range sc.collectors {
+				f(sc.rchan)
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+	sc.running = true
+}
+
+// Stop stops the collection of stats
+func (sc *StatsCollector[T]) Stop() {
+	defer close(sc.rchan)
+	sc.ctxCancel()
+	<-sc.ctx.Done()
+}
+
+// Restart stops the StatsCollector,
+func (sc *StatsCollector[T]) Restart() {
+	if sc.IsRunning() {
+		sc.Stop()
+	}
+	if !sc.IsRunning() {
+		sc.Start()
+	}
+}
+
+// StatList is a simple map[string]Stat tht allows for easy lookup of stats by name
+// Getting all stats can still be done using a range loop
+type StatList[T Number] map[string]Stat[T]
+
+func (sl StatList[T]) Get(name string) Stat[T] {
+	if v, ok := sl[name]; ok {
+		return v
+	}
+	return Stat[T]{
+		Name: "UNDEFINED",
+		Value: 0,
+	}
+}
+
+func (sl StatList[T]) Set(name string, s Stat[T]) {
+	sl[name] = s
+}
+
+// PrometheusMetrics writes the stats in a format prometheus understands to an io.Writer
+func (sl StatList[T]) PrometheusMetrics(w io.Writer) {
+
+}