diff --git a/nion/utils/ListModel.py b/nion/utils/ListModel.py
index bb1f63d..0426114 100644
--- a/nion/utils/ListModel.py
+++ b/nion/utils/ListModel.py
@@ -52,13 +52,17 @@ def insert_item(self, index: int, value: T) -> None:
         self.notify_insert_item(self.__key if self.__key else "items", value, index)
 
     def remove_item(self, index: int) -> None:
-        value = self.__items[index]
-        del self.__items[index]
-        self.notify_remove_item(self.__key if self.__key else "items", value, index)
+        self.pop_item(index)
 
     def append_item(self, value: T) -> None:
         self.insert_item(len(self.__items), value)
 
+    def pop_item(self, index: int) -> T:
+        value = self.__items[index]
+        del self.__items[index]
+        self.notify_remove_item(self.__key if self.__key else "items", value, index)
+        return value
+
     @property
     def items(self) -> typing.Sequence[T]:
         return self.__items
@@ -397,6 +401,11 @@ def items(self) -> typing.Sequence[typing.Any]:
         with self._update_mutex:
             return copy.copy(self.__items)
 
+    @property
+    def item_count(self) -> int:
+        """ Return the number of items. """
+        return len(self.__items)
+
     def __getattr__(self, item: str) -> typing.Any:
         if item == self.__items_key:
             return self.items