diff --git a/neo/test/test_utils.py b/neo/test/test_utils.py
index 7fbb6bea0..bf00a7584 100644
--- a/neo/test/test_utils.py
+++ b/neo/test/test_utils.py
@@ -32,8 +32,10 @@ def setUp(self):
 
 class TestUtilsWithoutProxyObjects(unittest.TestCase):
     def test__get_events(self):
-        starts_1 = Event(times=[0.5, 10.0, 25.2] * pq.s)
-        starts_1.annotate(event_type='trial start', pick='me')
+        starts_1 = Event(times=[0.5, 10.0, 25.2] * pq.s,
+                         labels=['label1', 'label2', 'label3'],
+                         name='pick_me')
+        starts_1.annotate(event_type='trial start')
         starts_1.array_annotate(trial_id=[1, 2, 3])
 
         stops_1 = Event(times=[5.5, 14.9, 30.1] * pq.s)
@@ -56,9 +58,9 @@ def test__get_events(self):
         block = Block()
         block.segments = [seg, seg2]
 
-        # test getting one whole event via annotation
+        # test getting one whole event via annotation or attribute
         extracted_starts1 = get_events(seg, event_type='trial start')
-        extracted_starts1b = get_events(block, pick='me')
+        extracted_starts1b = get_events(block, name='pick_me')
 
         self.assertEqual(len(extracted_starts1), 1)
         self.assertEqual(len(extracted_starts1b), 1)
@@ -128,6 +130,20 @@ def test__get_events(self):
         assert_arrays_equal(trials_1_2.array_annotations['trial_id'], np.array([1, 2]))
         self.assertIsInstance(trials_1_2.array_annotations, ArrayDict)
 
+        # test selecting event times by label
+        trials_1_2 = get_events(block, labels=['label1', 'label2'])
+
+        self.assertEqual(len(trials_1_2), 1)
+
+        trials_1_2 = trials_1_2[0]
+
+        self.assertEqual(starts_1.name, trials_1_2.name)
+        self.assertEqual(starts_1.description, trials_1_2.description)
+        self.assertEqual(starts_1.file_origin, trials_1_2.file_origin)
+        self.assertEqual(starts_1.annotations['event_type'], trials_1_2.annotations['event_type'])
+        assert_arrays_equal(trials_1_2.array_annotations['trial_id'], np.array([1, 2]))
+        self.assertIsInstance(trials_1_2.array_annotations, ArrayDict)
+
         # test getting more than one event time of more than one event
         trials_1_2b = get_events(block, trial_id=[1, 2])
 
diff --git a/neo/utils.py b/neo/utils.py
index 7cfd08bd4..31564f7a5 100644
--- a/neo/utils.py
+++ b/neo/utils.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 import neo
 import copy
 import warnings
-import inspect
 import numpy as np
 import quantities as pq
 
@@ -49,6 +48,9 @@ def get_events(container, **properties):
 
     Example:
     --------
+        >>> import neo
+        >>> from neo.utils import get_events
+        >>> import quantities as pq
         >>> event = neo.Event(times=[0.5, 10.0, 25.2] * pq.s)
         >>> event.annotate(event_type='trial start')
         >>> event.array_annotate(trial_id=[1, 2, 3])
@@ -56,16 +58,16 @@ def get_events(container, **properties):
         >>> seg.events = [event]
 
         # Will return a list with the complete event object
-        >>> get_events(seg, properties={'event_type': 'trial start'})
+        >>> get_events(seg, event_type='trial start')
 
         # Will return an empty list
-        >>> get_events(seg, properties={'event_type': 'trial stop'})
+        >>> get_events(seg, event_type='trial stop')
 
         # Will return a list with an Event object, but only with trial 2
-        >>> get_events(seg, properties={'trial_id': 2})
+        >>> get_events(seg, trial_id=2)
 
         # Will return a list with an Event object, but only with trials 1 and 2
-        >>> get_events(seg, properties={'trial_id': [1, 2]})
+        >>> get_events(seg, trial_id=[1, 2])
     """
     if isinstance(container, neo.Segment):
         return _get_from_list(container.events, prop=properties)
@@ -118,24 +120,27 @@ def get_epochs(container, **properties):
 
     Example:
     --------
+        >>> import neo
+        >>> from neo.utils import get_epochs
+        >>> import quantities as pq
         >>> epoch = neo.Epoch(times=[0.5, 10.0, 25.2] * pq.s,
-                              durations = [100, 100, 100] * pq.ms)
-        >>> epoch.annotate(event_type='complete trial',
-                           trial_id=[1, 2, 3])
+        ...                   durations=[100, 100, 100] * pq.ms,
+        ...                   epoch_type='complete trial')
+        >>> epoch.array_annotate(trial_id=[1, 2, 3])
         >>> seg = neo.Segment()
         >>> seg.epochs = [epoch]
 
         # Will return a list with the complete event object
-        >>> get_epochs(seg, prop={'epoch_type': 'complete trial'})
+        >>> get_epochs(seg, epoch_type='complete trial')
 
         # Will return an empty list
-        >>> get_epochs(seg, prop={'epoch_type': 'error trial'})
+        >>> get_epochs(seg, epoch_type='error trial')
 
         # Will return a list with an Event object, but only with trial 2
-        >>> get_epochs(seg, prop={'trial_id': 2})
+        >>> get_epochs(seg, trial_id=2)
 
         # Will return a list with an Event object, but only with trials 1 and 2
-        >>> get_epochs(seg, prop={'trial_id': [1, 2]})
+        >>> get_epochs(seg, trial_id=[1, 2])
     """
     if isinstance(container, neo.Segment):
         return _get_from_list(container.epochs, prop=properties)
@@ -236,6 +241,12 @@ def _get_valid_ids(obj, annotation_key, annotation_value):
     if annotation_key in obj.annotations and obj.annotations[annotation_key] == annotation_value:
         valid_mask = np.ones(obj.shape)
 
+    elif annotation_key == 'labels':
+        # wrap annotation value to be list
+        if not type(annotation_value) in [list, np.ndarray]:
+            annotation_value = [annotation_value]
+        valid_mask = np.in1d(obj.labels, annotation_value)
+
     elif annotation_key in obj.array_annotations:
         # wrap annotation value to be list
         if not type(annotation_value) in [list, np.ndarray]: