diff --git a/src/memory/memory.py b/src/memory/memory.py
index 47af0682..66363e0d 100644
--- a/src/memory/memory.py
+++ b/src/memory/memory.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 from __future__ import with_statement
 
 import os.path
+import csv
 from ConfigParser import SafeConfigParser, NoOptionError, NoSectionError
 from xml.dom import minidom
 from logging import debug, info, warning, error
@@ -651,11 +652,19 @@ class Memory(object):
         if not section:
             section = 'DEFAULT'
         try:
-            _value = self.config.get(section, name)
+            value = self.config.get(section, name)
         except (NoOptionError, NoSectionError):
-            _value = ''
+            value = ''
 
-        return os.path.expanduser(_value) if name.endswith('_path') or name.endswith('_dir') else _value
+        if name.endswith('_path') or name.endswith('_dir'):
+            value = os.path.expanduser(value)
+        # thx to Brian (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/186857/splitting-a-semicolon-separated-string-to-a-dictionary-in-python/186873#186873)
+        elif name.endswith('_list'):
+            value = csv.reader([value], delimiter=',', quotechar='"').next()
+        elif name.endswith('_dict'):
+            value = dict(csv.reader([item], delimiter=':', quotechar='"').next()
+                         for item in csv.reader([value], delimiter=',', quotechar='"').next())
+        return value
 
     def load_xml(self, filename):
         """Load parameters template from xml file"""