diff --git a/src/code/ca/bcit/comp2522/lab05/BookStore.java b/src/code/ca/bcit/comp2522/lab05/BookStore.java
index bbb6cd1..f759333 100644
--- a/src/code/ca/bcit/comp2522/lab05/BookStore.java
+++ b/src/code/ca/bcit/comp2522/lab05/BookStore.java
@@ -23,19 +23,6 @@ public class BookStore {
     private final String bookStoreName;
     private final List<Novel> novels;
 
-    /**
-     * validateString ensures string input is not null or empty
-     * @param str to validate
-     * @throws IllegalArgumentException if invalid string
-     */
-    private static void validateString(final String str)
-            throws IllegalArgumentException
-    {
-        if (str == null || str.isEmpty()) {
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("String cannot be null or empty");
-        }
-    }
-
     /**
      * BookStore constructor creats a bookstore, and tests
      * hash maps and iterators
@@ -44,7 +31,7 @@ public class BookStore {
     public BookStore(
         final String bookStoreName
     ) {
-        validateString(bookStoreName);
+        Validator.validateString(bookStoreName);
 
         this.bookStoreName = bookStoreName;
         this.novels = new ArrayList<>();
diff --git a/src/code/ca/bcit/comp2522/lab05/Novel.java b/src/code/ca/bcit/comp2522/lab05/Novel.java
index 01c7e9f..a2b4c7b 100644
--- a/src/code/ca/bcit/comp2522/lab05/Novel.java
+++ b/src/code/ca/bcit/comp2522/lab05/Novel.java
@@ -13,19 +13,6 @@ public class Novel implements Comparable<Novel> {
     private final String authorName;
     private final int    yearPublished;
 
-    /**
-     * validateString ensures given string is not null or empty
-     * @param str to validate
-     * @throws IllegalArgumentException if invlalid string
-     */
-    private static void validateString(final String str)
-        throws IllegalArgumentException
-    {
-        if (str == null || str.isEmpty()) {
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("String cannot be null or empty");
-        }
-    }
-
     /**
      * Novel constructor
      * @param title of novel
@@ -37,8 +24,8 @@ public class Novel implements Comparable<Novel> {
         final String authorName,
         final int    yearPublished
     ) {
-        validateString(title);
-        validateString(authorName);
+        Validator.validateString(title);
+        Validator.validateString(authorName);
 
         this.title = title;
         this.authorName = authorName;
@@ -59,7 +46,7 @@ public class Novel implements Comparable<Novel> {
 
     /**
      * getYearPublished of the novel
-     * @return novel yearh published
+     * @return novel year published
      */
     public int getYearPublished() { return this.yearPublished; }
 
diff --git a/src/code/ca/bcit/comp2522/lab05/Validator.java b/src/code/ca/bcit/comp2522/lab05/Validator.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8cc64c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/code/ca/bcit/comp2522/lab05/Validator.java
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package ca.bcit.comp2522.lab05;
+
+/**
+ * Validator is a helper class to validate inputs
+ *
+ * @author Braeden Sowinski
+ * @author Trishaan Shetty
+ * @author Nico Agostini
+ * @version 1.0.0
+ */
+public class Validator {
+    /**
+     * validateString ensures string input is not null or empty
+     * @param str to validate
+     * @throws IllegalArgumentException if invalid string
+     */
+    public static void validateString(final String str)
+            throws IllegalArgumentException
+    {
+        if (str == null || str.isEmpty()) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("String cannot be null or empty");
+        }
+    }
+}