Using my own ruby files & configuration data

Hi,

In my ROR application, I want to use my own .rb files & also some
configuration files like “data.yaml”.
There are 2 ways I can store these files:
(1) I can create a separate folder in ROR application hierarchy & store
these files inside this folder.
(2) I can also store them inside the folder say “lib” in the ROR
application

Currently I am using first approach i.e. creating a seperate folder in
ROR
application hierarchy & storing these utility & configuration files in
this
folder & then having “require” statement in the appropriate controllers
to
make these utility & configuration files available, but just wanted to
know
whether this is the right way to do it.
Is there any folder in the ROR application hierarchy which is meant to
store
such utility files?

Any inputs in this regards will be greatly appreciated.