diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f2d754
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# .env.example
+ALGOLIA_APP_ID=
+ALGOLIA_API_KEY=
+ALGOLIA_INDEX_NAME=
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b2d6de3..b083ed4 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 # Misc
 .DS_Store
+.env
 .env.local
 .env.development.local
 .env.test.local
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0c6c2c2..aead283 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,41 +1,71 @@
-# Website
+# CCSS Handbook
 
-This website is built using [Docusaurus](https://docusaurus.io/), a modern static website generator.
+The Carleton Computer Science Society internal handbook for volunteers and developers.
 
-### Installation
+## Installation
 
+```bash
+npm install
 ```
-$ yarn
+
+## Local Development
+
+1. **Create ``.env`` file at the project root**
+
+```bash
+echo > .env
 ```
 
-### Local Development
+2. **Add environment variables to the ``.env`` file**
+
+Open the ``.env`` file and define the variables from ``.env.example``. Reach out to Matthew for the values:
 
+```text
+ALGOLIA_APP_ID=
+ALGOLIA_API_KEY=
+ALGOLIA_INDEX_NAME=
 ```
-$ yarn start
+
+3. **Run Start Command**
+
+```bash
+npm run start
 ```
 
 This command starts a local development server and opens up a browser window. Most changes are reflected live without having to restart the server.
 
-### Build
+### Formatting
+
+To format the codebase to match the style defined by Prettier:
 
+```bash
+npm run format
 ```
-$ yarn build
+
+### Build
+
+```bash
+npm run build
 ```
 
-This command generates static content into the `build` directory and can be served using any static contents hosting service.
+This creates an optimized static `build` in the build directory.
 
-### Deployment
+## Deployment
 
-Using SSH:
+**Using SSH:**
 
-```
-$ USE_SSH=true yarn deploy
+```bash
+USE_SSH=true npm run deploy
 ```
 
-Not using SSH:
+**Not using SSH:**
 
+```bash
+GIT_USER=<Your GitHub username> npm run deploy
 ```
-$ GIT_USER=<Your GitHub username> yarn deploy
-```
 
-If you are using GitHub pages for hosting, this command is a convenient way to build the website and push to the `gh-pages` branch.
+This will build the site and push it to the ``gh-pages`` branch.
+
+## Contributing
+
+We welcome new developers! Make sure you are properly [onboarded](https://handbook.carletoncomputersciencesociety.ca/docs/guides/onboarding/development-volunteers) to be able to contribute to this project.
diff --git a/docusaurus.config.ts b/docusaurus.config.ts
index 4fb3da4..65daffc 100644
--- a/docusaurus.config.ts
+++ b/docusaurus.config.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import {themes as prismThemes} from 'prism-react-renderer';
 import type {Config} from '@docusaurus/types';
 import type * as Preset from '@docusaurus/preset-classic';
+import 'dotenv/config';
 
 // This runs in Node.js - Don't use client-side code here (browser APIs, JSX...)
 
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 56e682d..ab97608 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
         "@docusaurus/module-type-aliases": "3.7.0",
         "@docusaurus/tsconfig": "3.7.0",
         "@docusaurus/types": "3.7.0",
+        "@types/dotenv": "^6.1.1",
+        "dotenv": "^16.5.0",
         "gh-pages": "^6.3.0",
         "typescript": "~5.6.2"
       },
@@ -4845,6 +4847,16 @@
         "@types/ms": "*"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/@types/dotenv": {
+      "version": "6.1.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/dotenv/-/dotenv-6.1.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-ftQl3DtBvqHl9L16tpqqzA4YzCSXZfi7g8cQceTz5rOlYtk/IZbFjAv3mLOQlNIgOaylCQWQoBdDQHPgEBJPHg==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@types/node": "*"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/@types/eslint": {
       "version": "9.6.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/eslint/-/eslint-9.6.1.tgz",
@@ -7621,6 +7633,19 @@
         "node": ">=8"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/dotenv": {
+      "version": "16.5.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dotenv/-/dotenv-16.5.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-m/C+AwOAr9/W1UOIZUo232ejMNnJAJtYQjUbHoNTBNTJSvqzzDh7vnrei3o3r3m9blf6ZoDkvcw0VmozNRFJxg==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "BSD-2-Clause",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=12"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "url": "https://dotenvx.com"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/dunder-proto": {
       "version": "1.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dunder-proto/-/dunder-proto-1.0.1.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 9c9b1aa..f1de72e 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@
     "@docusaurus/module-type-aliases": "3.7.0",
     "@docusaurus/tsconfig": "3.7.0",
     "@docusaurus/types": "3.7.0",
+    "@types/dotenv": "^6.1.1",
+    "dotenv": "^16.5.0",
     "gh-pages": "^6.3.0",
     "typescript": "~5.6.2"
   },