diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 225b2d4..291381c 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 # WordPress Dev Environment
 src/wordpress
+dist
 
 # Composer
 **/vendor
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bd27ee6..3986b01 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -161,6 +161,14 @@ npm test
 
 Find more advanced instructions in `TESTING.md`
 
+### Package for release
+
+To create a new release:
+
+1. Update the version number in `src/documentcloud/documentcloud.php` and `src/documentcloud/readme.txt`
+2. Update changelog for new version in `README.md` and `src/documentcloud/readme.txt`
+3. Run `package-plugin.sh` to generate ZIP file for distribution
+
 ## Changelog
 
 ### 0.6.0
diff --git a/package-plugin.sh b/package-plugin.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..0713dbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package-plugin.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# WordPress DocumentCloud Plugin Packaging Script
+# This script packages the plugin for distribution by copying files
+# and excluding development artifacts, hidden files, and node_modules
+#
+# Generated by Claude Sonnet 4 on 2025-06-24
+
+set -e  # Exit on any error
+
+# Colors for output
+RED='\033[0;31m'
+GREEN='\033[0;32m'
+YELLOW='\033[1;33m'
+NC='\033[0m' # No Color
+
+# Configuration
+PLUGIN_NAME="documentcloud"
+SOURCE_DIR="src/documentcloud"
+DIST_DIR="dist"
+ZIP_FILE="${PLUGIN_NAME}.zip"
+
+echo -e "${YELLOW}📦 Starting WordPress DocumentCloud Plugin packaging...${NC}"
+
+# Step 1: Clear and create dist directory
+echo -e "${YELLOW}🧹 Step 1: Cleaning dist directory...${NC}"
+if [ -d "$DIST_DIR" ]; then
+    rm -rf "$DIST_DIR"
+    echo "   Removed existing dist directory"
+fi
+mkdir -p "$DIST_DIR"
+echo "   Created fresh dist directory"
+
+# Step 2: Copy plugin files with exclusions
+echo -e "${YELLOW}📋 Step 2: Copying plugin files...${NC}"
+
+# Check if source directory exists
+if [ ! -d "$SOURCE_DIR" ]; then
+    echo -e "${RED}❌ Error: Source directory $SOURCE_DIR not found!${NC}"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# Copy main plugin files (excluding hidden files and node_modules)
+echo "   Copying main plugin files..."
+rsync -av \
+    --exclude='.*' \
+    --exclude='*/.*' \
+    --exclude='node_modules/' \
+    --exclude='blocks/' \
+    "$SOURCE_DIR/" "$DIST_DIR/$PLUGIN_NAME/"
+
+# Step 2.1: Clean up any remaining hidden files that might have been copied
+echo -e "${YELLOW}🧹 Step 2.1: Cleaning up hidden files...${NC}"
+find "$DIST_DIR/$PLUGIN_NAME" -name ".*" -type f -delete
+find "$DIST_DIR/$PLUGIN_NAME" -name ".DS_Store" -delete
+echo "   Removed any remaining hidden files"
+
+# Step 3: Handle blocks directory specially (only copy build folder)
+echo -e "${YELLOW}🔧 Step 3: Handling blocks directory...${NC}"
+BLOCKS_SOURCE="$SOURCE_DIR/blocks"
+BLOCKS_DEST="$DIST_DIR/$PLUGIN_NAME/blocks"
+
+if [ -d "$BLOCKS_SOURCE/build" ]; then
+    echo "   Creating blocks directory structure..."
+    mkdir -p "$BLOCKS_DEST"
+    
+    echo "   Copying blocks/build directory..."
+    cp -r "$BLOCKS_SOURCE/build" "$BLOCKS_DEST/"
+    
+    # Copy essential block files (package.json for reference)
+    if [ -f "$BLOCKS_SOURCE/package.json" ]; then
+        cp "$BLOCKS_SOURCE/package.json" "$BLOCKS_DEST/"
+        echo "   Copied package.json for reference"
+    fi
+else
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}   ⚠️  Warning: blocks/build directory not found${NC}"
+fi
+
+# Step 4: Create zip file
+echo -e "${YELLOW}🗜️  Step 4: Creating zip archive...${NC}"
+
+cd "$DIST_DIR"
+# Remove existing zip file if it exists
+if [ -f "$ZIP_FILE" ]; then
+    rm "$ZIP_FILE"
+    echo "   Removed existing $ZIP_FILE"
+fi
+
+# Create zip file from dist directory
+zip -r "$ZIP_FILE" "$PLUGIN_NAME/" > /dev/null
+cd ..
+
+echo "   Created $ZIP_FILE"
+
+# Step 5: Validate and report
+echo -e "${YELLOW}✅ Step 5: Validation and summary...${NC}"
+
+cd "$DIST_DIR"
+# Check if zip was created successfully
+if [ -f "$ZIP_FILE" ]; then
+    ZIP_SIZE=$(du -h "$ZIP_FILE" | cut -f1)
+    echo -e "${GREEN}🎉 Success! Plugin packaged successfully${NC}"
+    echo "   📁 Archive: $ZIP_FILE ($ZIP_SIZE)"
+    echo "   📂 Contents preview:"
+    unzip -l "$ZIP_FILE" | head -20
+    echo
+    echo -e "${GREEN}✨ Ready for distribution!${NC}"
+else
+    echo -e "${RED}❌ Error: Failed to create zip file${NC}"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo -e "${YELLOW}📦 Packaging complete!${NC}"
diff --git a/readme.txt b/src/documentcloud/readme.txt
similarity index 99%
rename from readme.txt
rename to src/documentcloud/readme.txt
index 37b2ea2..c992bed 100644
--- a/readme.txt
+++ b/src/documentcloud/readme.txt
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ Contributors: chrisamico, reefdog, freedmand
 Tags: documentcloud, documents, journalism, reporting, research
 Requires at least: 5.0
 Tested up to: 6.8
-Stable tag: trunk
+Stable tag: 0.6.0
 License: GPLv2
 License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html