diff --git a/src/aux.py b/src/aux.py
index 18e6243..1da7b07 100644
--- a/src/aux.py
+++ b/src/aux.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import os
 import re
 import web
+import uuid
 import logging
 
 
@@ -38,3 +39,7 @@ def is_get_request():
 
 def get_input():
     return web.input() if is_get_request() else web.data().decode('utf-8')
+
+
+def generate_uuid():
+    return str(uuid.uuid4())
diff --git a/src/models/work.py b/src/models/work.py
index 3031a7f..7174171 100644
--- a/src/models/work.py
+++ b/src/models/work.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import web
-import uuid
 import psycopg2
 from aux import logger_instance, debug_mode, strtolist
 from api import db
@@ -176,28 +175,6 @@ def delete(self):
         q = '''DELETE FROM work WHERE work_id = $work_id'''
         db.query(q, dict(work_id=self.UUID))
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def generate_uuid():
-        return str(uuid.uuid4())
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def is_uuid(input_uuid):
-        try:
-            uuid.UUID(input_uuid)
-            return True
-        except ValueError:
-            return False
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def uuid_exists(work_id):
-        try:
-            options = dict(work_id=work_id)
-            result = db.select('work', options, what="work_id",
-                               where="work_id = $work_id")
-            return result.first()["work_id"] == work_id
-        except BaseException:
-            return False
-
     @staticmethod
     def get_from_work_id(work_id):
         params = dict(uuid=work_id)
diff --git a/src/worksctrl.py b/src/worksctrl.py
index c4b8773..0605069 100644
--- a/src/worksctrl.py
+++ b/src/worksctrl.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import web
-from aux import logger_instance, debug_mode, sort_alphabetically, strtolist
+from aux import (logger_instance, debug_mode, sort_alphabetically, strtolist,
+                 generate_uuid)
 from validation import validate_sorting_or_fail, require_params_or_fail
 from api import json, json_response, api_response, check_token, build_parms
 from errors import Error, BADPARAMS, NORESULT
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ def POST(self, name):
             UriScheme.find_or_fail(scheme)
 
         # instantiate a new work with the input data
-        uuid = Work.generate_uuid()
+        uuid = generate_uuid()
         work = Work(uuid, wtype, titles, uris)
 
         # check relatives and associate them with the work