diff --git a/lib/history/singleton.go b/lib/history/singleton.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5c0c0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/history/singleton.go
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package history
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+
+	"github.com/flachnetz/startup/v2/lib/events"
+	"github.com/flachnetz/startup/v2/lib/ql"
+	"github.com/flachnetz/startup/v2/startup_base"
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5"
+)
+
+// Options configures the global history Service set up by InitializeGlobal.
+type Options struct {
+	// DB starts the transactions used to create the table and to write records.
+	DB ql.TxStarter
+
+	// ServiceId identifies this service as the sender of the emitted events.
+	ServiceId string
+	// HistoryTable is the name of the table that history records are written to.
+	HistoryTable string
+	// EventCreator builds the event that is sent out for every tracked record.
+	EventCreator EventCreator
+}
+
+// instance holds the global history Service initialized by InitializeGlobal.
+var instance *Service
+
+// InitializeGlobal sets up the global history Service used by Track. It creates
+// the history table (if it does not exist yet) and starts the background task
+// that sends records tracked outside of a transaction.
+func InitializeGlobal(ctx context.Context, opts Options) error {
+	err := ql.InNewTransaction(ctx, opts.DB, func(ctx ql.TxContext) error {
+		return CreateTable(ctx, opts.HistoryTable)
+	})
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("create history table: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	instance = New(opts.DB, pgx.Identifier{opts.HistoryTable}, &EventSending{
+		EventSender:    events.Sender,
+		EventCreator:   opts.EventCreator,
+		ServiceId:      opts.ServiceId,
+		ServiceVersion: startup_base.BuildVersion,
+		WriteToOutbox:  true,
+	})
+
+	// start the background task that flushes records tracked outside of a
+	// transaction. Cancel ctx to stop it.
+	instance.SendAsync(ctx)
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Track uses the global history singleton.
+// You need to initialize it using InitializeGlobal first.
+func Track[T ~string](ctx context.Context, groupId T, item Item) {
+	if instance == nil {
+		// not initialized: just log the event instead of tracking it.
+		slog.WarnContext(ctx, "Tracking event", slog.String("event", item.HistoryString()))
+		return
+	}
+
+	instance.Track(ctx, GroupId(groupId), item)
+}
diff --git a/startup_logging/resty.go b/startup_logging/resty.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0a8be38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/startup_logging/resty.go
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package sl
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+)
+
+// RestyAdapter bridges resty.Logger to *slog.Logger.
+type RestyAdapter struct {
+	Logger *slog.Logger
+}
+
+func (a RestyAdapter) Errorf(format string, v ...any) {
+	a.Logger.Error(fmt.Sprintf(format, v...))
+}
+
+func (a RestyAdapter) Warnf(format string, v ...any) {
+	a.Logger.Warn(fmt.Sprintf(format, v...))
+}
+
+func (a RestyAdapter) Debugf(format string, v ...any) {
+	a.Logger.Debug(fmt.Sprintf(format, v...))
+}