my $stmt = qq/INSERT INTO books ( / . join(',', keys %hash) . qq/) 
				VALUES (/ . join(',', ('?') x keys %hash) . qq/)/;
my $sth = $dbh->prepare($stmt);
$sth->execute(values %hash);   

##</code><code>##

sub write_to_db {
   my $table   = shift; #pass in table name
   my $hash    = shift; #pass in hash ref to data
   my ($stmt, $sth);
   
   #subroutine to connect to db
   my $dbh = dbconnect(server =>'master', db => 'member');
   
   my %hash = %{ $hash }; #deref data

   if ($query->param('update')) {  #set a hidden value in html form if updating
      $stmt = qq/UPDATE $table SET updated_on = NOW(), / . join(' = ?,', keys %hash) . qq/ = ? 
                 WHERE id = ?/;
      $sth = $dbh->prepare($stmt);
      $sth->execute(values %hash, $query->param('id')); #set a hidden value
      
   } else {
      my $stmt = qq/INSERT INTO $table (created_on, / . join(',', keys %hash) . qq/) 
                  VALUES (NOW(),/ . join(',', ('?') x keys %hash) . qq/)/;
      my $sth = $dbh->prepare($stmt);
      $sth->execute(values %hash);   
   }
}