diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c11a11f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# https://docs.github.com/code-security/dependabot/dependabot-version-updates/configuration-options-for-the-dependabot.yml-file
+
+version: 2
+updates:
+  - package-ecosystem: "github-actions" # See documentation for possible values
+    directory: "/" # Location of package manifests
+    schedule:
+      interval: "weekly"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/check-crlf.yml b/.github/workflows/check-crlf.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..60e67b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/check-crlf.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# check for Windows CRLF in files
+# homepage: https://github.com/marketplace/actions/check-crlf
+
+name: Check CRLF
+
+on: [push, pull_request]
+
+jobs:
+  Check-CRLF:
+    name: verify that only LF linefeeds are used
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository contents
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Use action to check for CRLF endings
+        uses: erclu/check-crlf@v1.2.0
+        with: # ignore directories containing *.csv & data
+          exclude: /testData/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/workflows/irc_notify.yml b/.github/workflows/irc_notify.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f6d4296
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/irc_notify.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+# send build notifications to the #odis IRC channel
+# homepage: https://github.com/marketplace/actions/notify-irc
+
+name: "IRC Push Notification"
+on: 
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - master
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - master
+
+jobs:
+  irc_notify:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    #if: github.repository == 'iodepo/odis-in'
+    steps:
+      - name: irc push
+        uses: rectalogic/notify-irc@v2
+        if: github.event_name == 'push'
+        with:
+          channel: "#odis"
+          server: "irc.libera.chat"
+          nickname: odis-github-notifier
+          message: |
+            ${{ github.actor }} pushed ${{ github.event.ref }} ${{ github.event.compare }}
+            ${{ join(github.event.commits.*.message) }}
+      - name: irc pull request
+        uses: rectalogic/notify-irc@v2
+        if: github.event_name == 'pull_request'
+        with:
+          channel: "#odis"
+          server: "irc.libera.chat"
+          nickname: odis-github-notifier
+          message: |
+            ${{ github.actor }} opened PR ${{ github.event.pull_request.html_url }}
+            ${{ github.event.pull_request.title }}
+      - name: irc tag created
+        uses: rectalogic/notify-irc@v2
+        if: github.event_name == 'create' && github.event.ref_type == 'tag'
+        with:
+          channel: "#odis"
+          server: "irc.libera.chat"
+          nickname: odis-github-notifier
+          message: |
+            ${{ github.actor }} tagged ${{ github.repository }} ${{ github.event.ref }}
diff --git a/LICENSE.md b/LICENSE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f8097f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+MIT License
+
+Copyright (c) 2024 Ocean InfoHub
+
+Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+SOFTWARE.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 00c2d04..28eeca8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,2 +1,7 @@
 # OIH-in-a-box
-all in one installation of an OIH instance to be used by future partners (e.g. IOC Africa)
+All in one installation of an [OIH instance](https://oceaninfohub.org/) to be used by future partners (e.g. IOC Africa)
+
+## License
+
+See [LICENSE.md](LICENSE.md)
+