Optimize lib for large datasets

**Feature request**
It would be great to have serialization for helpers.

**Use case**
Many users need this functionality for production deployments.

**Implementation idea**
Add a new config option `enable_serialization` with default `false`.

Start by locating the library helpers and the configuration handling for new options. Determine how helper values are currently represented and where production configuration is read. Done means helpers can be serialized and the new enable_serialization option defaults to false; the issue names no files or tests to run.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.