diff --git a/.hgignore b/.hgignore
index eb8f9e6..2305450 100644
--- a/.hgignore
+++ b/.hgignore
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 mode:regex
 
+^_dist/
 \.exe$
diff --git a/_dist/README.txt b/_dist/README.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f36bbc9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/_dist/README.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+Go bindings for libimagequant
+
+`libimagequant` is a library for lossy recompression of PNG images to reduce their filesize. It is used by the `pngquant` tool. This `go-imagequant` project is a set of bindings for libimagequant to enable its use from the Go programming language.
+
+This binding was written by hand. The result is somewhat more idiomatic than an automated conversion, but some `defer foo.Release()` calls are required for memory management.
+
+Written in Golang
+
+=USAGE=
+
+Usage example is provided by a sample utility `cmd/gopngquant` which mimics some functionality of the upstream `pngquant`.
+
+The sample utility has the following options:
+
+`Usage of gopngquant:
+  -In string
+        Input filename
+  -Out string
+        Output filename
+  -Speed int
+        Speed (1 slowest, 10 fastest) (default 3)
+  -Version`
+
+=BUILDING=
+
+Build via `go build`.
+
+This is a CGO package and requires a C compiler installed. However, if you use `go install` then future invocations of `go build` do not require the C compiler to be present.
+
+The `imagequant.go` file also declares a number of `CFLAGS` for GCC that allow the included libimagequant (2.8 git-a425e83) to build in an optimal way without using the upstream configure/make scripts.
+
+=LICENSE=
+
+I am releasing this binding under the ISC license, however, `libimagequant` itself is released under GPLv3-or-later and/or commercial licenses. You must comply with the terms of such a license when using this binding in a Go project.
+
+=SEE ALSO=
+
+- Pngquant homepage https://pngquant.org/
+- Pngquant source code https://github.com/pornel/pngquant
+- Libimagequant source code https://github.com/ImageOptim/libimagequant