diff --git a/var/spack/packages/lapack/package.py b/var/spack/packages/lapack/package.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..25469679ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/packages/lapack/package.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+from spack import *
+from subprocess import call
+import sys
+import glob
+
+class Lapack(Package):
+    """
+    Netlib implementation of Lapack. If we end up having more Lapack libraries, we should
+    turn it into a virtual dependency. 
+    """
+    homepage = "http://www.netlib.org/lapack/"
+    url      = "http://www.netlib.org/lapack/lapack-3.5.0.tgz"
+
+    version('3.5.0', 'b1d3e3e425b2e44a06760ff173104bdf')
+
+    # Doesn't always build correctly in parallel
+    parallel = False
+
+    # virtual
+    depends_on("blas")
+
+    def install(self, spec, prefix):
+        # CMake could be used if the build becomes more complex
+
+        call(['cp', 'make.inc.example', 'make.inc'])
+
+        # Retrieves name of package that satisifies 'blas' virtual dependency
+        blas_name = next(m for m in ('netlib_blas', 'atlas') if m in spec)
+        blas_spec = spec[blas_name]
+        blas_object_path = blas_spec.prefix.lib + '/blas.a'
+
+        # The blas dependency must provide a 'blas.a' - but this is not gauranteed right now
+        # So maybe we should check if it exists first... maybe...
+        make('BLASLIB="%s"' % blas_object_path)
+
+        # Manual install since no method provided
+        # Should probably be changed so only one external call is made
+        # Can install be used on a list of files? 
+        mkdirp(prefix.lib)
+        for file in glob.glob('*.a'):
+            install(file, prefix.lib)
diff --git a/var/spack/packages/netlib_blas/package.py b/var/spack/packages/netlib_blas/package.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e6b7ec80a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/packages/netlib_blas/package.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+from spack import *
+from subprocess import call
+
+class NetlibBlas(Package):
+    """Netlib reference BLAS"""
+    homepage = "http://www.netlib.org/lapack/"
+    url      = "http://www.netlib.org/lapack/lapack-3.5.0.tgz"
+
+    version('3.5.0', 'b1d3e3e425b2e44a06760ff173104bdf')
+
+    # virtual dependency
+    provides('blas')
+
+    # Doesn't always build correctly in parallel
+    parallel = False
+
+    def install(self, spec, prefix):
+        call(['cp', 'make.inc.example', 'make.inc'])
+        make('blaslib')
+        
+        # Tests that blas builds correctly
+        make('blas_testing')
+
+        # No install provided
+        mkdirp(prefix.lib)
+        install('librefblas.a', prefix.lib)
+
+        # Blas virtual package should provide blas.a
+        call(['ln', '-s', prefix.lib + '/librefblas.a', prefix.lib + '/blas.a'])
\ No newline at end of file