diff --git a/tools/run-mypy b/tools/run-mypy
index 6982ee4..60e1f95 100755
--- a/tools/run-mypy
+++ b/tools/run-mypy
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ exclude = [
     # Excluded because we don't want to require bot authors to
     # fully annotate their bots.
     "zulip_bots/zulip_bots/bots",
+    "zulip_bots/zulip_bots/bots_unmaintained",
 ]
 
 parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Run mypy on files tracked by git.")
diff --git a/zulip_bots/zulip_bots/bots_unmaintained/README.md b/zulip_bots/zulip_bots/bots_unmaintained/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ec1345
--- /dev/null
+++ b/zulip_bots/zulip_bots/bots_unmaintained/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# Unmaintained bots
+
+This directory contains bots that are currently not maintained by the Zulip
+community. They are untested and potentially buggy or completely nonfunctional.
+We only know that they worked at the time of their creation.
+
+We see potential in every bot included in this directory. Many were moved simply
+because they didn't contain automated tests. Feel free to use or revive
+these bots.
+
+## Reviving a bot
+
+To revive an unmaintained bot, go through our [Writing bots](
+http://zulip.readthedocs.io/en/latest/writing-bots-guide.html) guide and check if
+the bot meets the outlined criteria.
+In particular, this means that the bot should:
+* contain automated tests.
+* be well-documented, with usage examples.
+* provide a command set reasonably easy and convenient to use for a human.
+
+Once a bot fulfills all the criteria, feel free to submit a pull request to add it
+to the `bots` directory. We are happy to include it there.