diff --git a/.Rbuildignore b/.Rbuildignore
index 25f5d5d..e6e4c31 100644
--- a/.Rbuildignore
+++ b/.Rbuildignore
@@ -11,3 +11,4 @@ README.html
 NEWS.md
 bibliography.bib
 ^codemeta\.json$
+^\.github$
diff --git a/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f66c762
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+# CONTRIBUTING #
+
+### Fixing typos
+
+Small typos or grammatical errors in documentation may be edited directly using
+the GitHub web interface, so long as the changes are made in the _source_ file.
+
+*  YES: you edit a roxygen comment in a `.R` file below `R/`.
+*  NO: you edit an `.Rd` file below `man/`.
+
+### Prerequisites
+
+Before you make a substantial pull request, you should always file an issue and
+make sure someone from the team agrees that it’s a problem. If you’ve found a
+bug, create an associated issue and illustrate the bug with a minimal 
+[reprex](https://www.tidyverse.org/help/#reprex).
+
+### Pull request process
+
+*  We recommend that you create a Git branch for each pull request (PR).  
+*  Look at the Travis and AppVeyor build status before and after making changes.
+The `README` should contain badges for any continuous integration services used
+by the package.  
+*  We recommend the tidyverse [style guide](http://style.tidyverse.org).
+You can use the [styler](https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=styler) package to
+apply these styles, but please don't restyle code that has nothing to do with 
+your PR.  
+*  We use [roxygen2](https://cran.r-project.org/package=roxygen2).  
+*  We use [testthat](https://cran.r-project.org/package=testthat). Contributions
+with test cases included are easier to accept.  
+*  For user-facing changes, add a bullet to the top of `NEWS.md` below the
+current development version header describing the changes made followed by your
+GitHub username, and links to relevant issue(s)/PR(s).
+
+### Code of Conduct
+
+Please note that the DataPackageR project is released with a
+[Contributor Code of Conduct](CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md). By contributing to this
+project you agree to abide by its terms.
+
+### See rOpenSci [contributing guide](https://ropensci.github.io/dev_guide/contributingguide.html)
+for further details.
+
+### Discussion forum
+
+Check out our [discussion forum](https://discuss.ropensci.org) if you think your issue requires a longer form discussion.
+
+### Prefer to Email? 
+
+Email the person listed as maintainer in the `DESCRIPTION` file of this repo.
+
+Though note that private discussions over email don't help others - of course email is totally warranted if it's a sensitive problem of any kind.
+
+### Thanks for contributing!
+
+This contributing guide is adapted from the tidyverse contributing guide available at https://raw.githubusercontent.com/r-lib/usethis/master/inst/templates/tidy-contributing.md 
diff --git a/.github/issue_template.md b/.github/issue_template.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..836f284
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/issue_template.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+<!-- IF THIS INVOLVES AUTHENTICATION: DO NOT SHARE YOUR USERNAME/PASSWORD, OR API KEYS/TOKENS IN THIS ISSUE - MOST LIKELY THE MAINTAINER WILL HAVE THEIR OWN EQUIVALENT KEY -->
+
+<!-- If this issue relates to usage of the package, whether a question, bug or similar, along with your query, please paste your devtools::session_info() or sessionInfo() into the code block below, AND include a reproducible example (consider using a "reprex" https://cran.rstudio.com/web/packages/reprex/) If not, delete all this and proceed :) -->
+
+<details> <summary><strong>Session Info</strong></summary>
+
+```r
+
+```
+</details>
diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e1beac8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+<!-- IF THIS INVOLVES AUTHENTICATION: DO NOT SHARE YOUR USERNAME/PASSWORD, OR API KEYS/TOKENS IN THIS ISSUE - MOST LIKELY THE MAINTAINER WILL HAVE THEIR OWN EQUIVALENT KEY -->
+
+<!-- If you've updated a file in the man-roxygen directory, make sure to update the man/ files by running devtools::document() or similar as .Rd files should be affected by your change -->
+
+<!--- Provide a general summary of your changes in the Title above -->
+
+## Description
+<!--- Describe your changes in detail -->
+
+## Related Issue
+<!--- if this closes an issue make sure include e.g., "fix #4"
+or similar - or if just relates to an issue make sure to mention
+it like "#4" -->
+
+## Example
+<!--- if introducing a new feature or changing behavior of existing
+methods/functions, include an example if possible to do in brief form -->
+
+<!--- Did you remember to include tests? Unless you're just changing
+grammar, please include new tests for your change -->