This static helper class allows the easy generation of a strongly typed web.config value.

ConfigurationHelper.cs

	/// <summary>
    /// Helper class for accesing configuration file
    /// </summary>
    public class ConfigurationHelper
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Returns strongly typed application setting value
        /// </summary>
        /// <typeparam name="T">Entry type</typeparam>
        /// <param name="key">configuraiton key</param>
        /// <param name="defaultValue">default value that should be returned if conversion fails</param>
        /// <returns>configuration setting value</returns>
        public static T GetAppSetting<T>(string key, T defaultValue)
        {
        	var reader = new AppSettingsReader();

			try
			{
			    return (T)reader.GetValue(key, typeof(T));
			}
			catch (InvalidOperationException)
			{
			    return defaultValue;
			}
        }