import csv def get_data(filename): '''function to read the data form the input csv file to use in the analysis''' reader = [] # Just in case the file open fails with open(filename, 'rb') as f: reader = csv.reader(f,delimiter=',') #returns all the data from the csv file in list form #f.close() # May need to close the file when done return list(reader) # only return the reader when you have finished. your_list = [] your_list += get_data('modules-anselm.csv') your_list += get_data('modules-salomon.csv') #your_list += get_data('modules-salomon-uv.csv') print your_list