diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c43ca25..61fbee8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ Unity containers for values and events with change/invoke notifications, as plai
 
 ## Install
 
-1. In Unity Editor click **Window** → **Package Manager**.
+1. In the Unity Editor, click **Window** → **Package Manager**.
 2. Click **+** (top left) → **Install package from git URL…**.
-3. Enter this repository URL with `.git` suffix and click **Add**:
+3. Enter this repository URL with the `.git` suffix:
 	```
 	https://github.com/darksailstudio/refs.git
 	```
@@ -61,9 +61,9 @@ Asset-backed references (`SharedRef<T>`, `SharedEventRef`) for sharing state and
 
 Shared references are created via **Assets** → **Create** → **Shared References** → **\[Type\]**.
 
-#### `SharedRef<T>`
+#### `SharedRef<T>` / `ReadOnlySharedRef<T>`
 
-Abstract base for asset-backed values. Same API as [`Ref<T>`](#reft) (except the constructor), but wrapped in a `ScriptableObject` asset.
+Abstract base for asset-backed values. Same API as [`Ref<T>`](#reft) (except the constructor), but wrapped in a `ScriptableObject` asset. Read only variant provides immutable access and preserves encapuslation.
 
 Requires derived types for values due to Unity serialization constraints (assets can't be generic types). Implementations provided for common C# and Unity primitives:
 
@@ -80,9 +80,9 @@ using UnityEngine;
 class MyCustomSharedRef : SharedRef<MySerializableType> {}
 ```
 
-#### `SharedEventRef`
+#### `SharedEventRef` / `ReadOnlySharedEventRef`
 
-Same API as [`EventRef`](#eventref), but wrapped in a `ScriptableObject` asset.
+Same API as [`EventRef`](#eventref), but wrapped in a `ScriptableObject` asset. Read-only variant provides immutable access and preserves encapsulation.
 
 #### Examples
 
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ using UnityEngine;
 
 public class Player : MonoBehaviour
 {
-	[SerializeField] SharedIntRef playerHP;
+	[SerializeField] SharedRef<int> playerHP;
 	[SerializeField] SharedEventRef playerDied;
 
 	public void TakeDamage(int damage)
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ using UnityEngine;
 
 public class HealthUI : MonoBehaviour
 {
-	[SerializeField] SharedIntRef playerHP;
+	[SerializeField] ReadOnlySharedRef<int> playerHP;
 
 	void OnEnable()
 	{
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ using UnityEngine;
 
 public class GameOverUI : MonoBehaviour
 {
-	[SerializeField] SharedEventRef playerDied;
+	[SerializeField] ReadOnlySharedEventRef playerDied;
 
 	void OnEnable()
 	{
diff --git a/Runtime/Shared/ReadOnlySharedEventRef.cs b/Runtime/Shared/ReadOnlySharedEventRef.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bb1810d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Runtime/Shared/ReadOnlySharedEventRef.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#nullable enable
+
+using System;
+using DarkSail.Resettables;
+using UnityEngine;
+
+namespace DarkSail.Refs
+{
+	[ResetOnExitPlayMode]
+	public abstract class ReadOnlySharedEventRef : ScriptableObject, IReadOnlyEventRef
+	{
+		[SerializeField]
+		protected EventRef eventRef = new EventRef();
+
+		public event Action? Invoked
+		{
+			add => eventRef.Invoked += value;
+			remove => eventRef.Invoked -= value;
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/Runtime/Shared/ReadOnlySharedEventRef.cs.meta b/Runtime/Shared/ReadOnlySharedEventRef.cs.meta
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f4b9974
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Runtime/Shared/ReadOnlySharedEventRef.cs.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+fileFormatVersion: 2
+guid: 0aaca03b50e59814e9fb7ca87061f8c9
diff --git a/Runtime/Shared/ReadOnlySharedRef.cs b/Runtime/Shared/ReadOnlySharedRef.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d45a835
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Runtime/Shared/ReadOnlySharedRef.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#nullable enable
+
+using System;
+using DarkSail.Resettables;
+using UnityEngine;
+
+namespace DarkSail.Refs
+{
+	[ResetOnExitPlayMode]
+	public abstract class ReadOnlySharedRef<T> : ScriptableObject, IReadOnlyRef<T>
+	{
+		[SerializeField]
+		protected Ref<T> valueRef = new Ref<T>(default!);
+
+		public T Value => valueRef.Value;
+
+		public event Action<T>? Changed
+		{
+			add => valueRef.Changed += value;
+			remove => valueRef.Changed -= value;
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/Runtime/Shared/ReadOnlySharedRef.cs.meta b/Runtime/Shared/ReadOnlySharedRef.cs.meta
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0081af0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Runtime/Shared/ReadOnlySharedRef.cs.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+fileFormatVersion: 2
+guid: 4a1ecfc132d40f445b3c72daf1befb3b
diff --git a/Runtime/Shared/SharedEventRef.cs b/Runtime/Shared/SharedEventRef.cs
index 63d14b7..0cbc8b2 100644
--- a/Runtime/Shared/SharedEventRef.cs
+++ b/Runtime/Shared/SharedEventRef.cs
@@ -1,24 +1,12 @@
 #nullable enable
 
-using System;
-using DarkSail.Resettables;
 using UnityEngine;
 
 namespace DarkSail.Refs
 {
-	[ResetOnExitPlayMode]
 	[CreateAssetMenu(menuName = "Shared References/Event")]
-	public class SharedEventRef : ScriptableObject, IEventRef
+	public class SharedEventRef : ReadOnlySharedEventRef, IEventRef
 	{
-		[SerializeField]
-		EventRef eventRef = new EventRef();
-
-		public event Action? Invoked
-		{
-			add => eventRef.Invoked += value;
-			remove => eventRef.Invoked -= value;
-		}
-
 		public void Invoke() => eventRef.Invoke();
 	}
 }
diff --git a/Runtime/Shared/SharedRef.cs b/Runtime/Shared/SharedRef.cs
index 300c909..c44bec8 100644
--- a/Runtime/Shared/SharedRef.cs
+++ b/Runtime/Shared/SharedRef.cs
@@ -1,27 +1,13 @@
 #nullable enable
 
-using System;
-using DarkSail.Resettables;
-using UnityEngine;
-
 namespace DarkSail.Refs
 {
-	[ResetOnExitPlayMode]
-	public abstract class SharedRef<T> : ScriptableObject, IRef<T>
+	public abstract class SharedRef<T> : ReadOnlySharedRef<T>, IRef<T>
 	{
-		[SerializeField]
-		Ref<T> valueRef = new Ref<T>(default!);
-
-		public T Value
+		public new T Value
 		{
-			get => valueRef.Value;
+			get => base.Value;
 			set => valueRef.Value = value;
 		}
-
-		public event Action<T>? Changed
-		{
-			add => valueRef.Changed += value;
-			remove => valueRef.Changed -= value;
-		}
 	}
 }