diff --git a/monastery.lisp b/monastery.lisp
index af36f3a..1388735 100644
--- a/monastery.lisp
+++ b/monastery.lisp
@@ -1,5 +1,18 @@
 (in-package :monastery)
 
+;; instance of the object
+(defclass dictionary ()
+    ((pointer :initarg :pointer :reader dictionary-pointer)
+    (dict-path :initarg :dict-path :reader dictionary-path)
+    (closedp :initform nil :reader dictionary-closed-p)
+    (operation-count :initform 0 :reader dictionary-operation-count)
+    (created-at :initform (get-universal-time) :reader dictionary-created-at)))
+
+(defmethod print-object ((d dictionary) stream)
+    (print-unreadable-object (d stream :type t :identity t)
+        (format stream "~A (~A)" (slot-value d 'dict-path) 
+                                 (slot-value d 'closedp))))
+
 ;; conditions
 
 ;;; dict-error is the general interface error, when handling conditions
diff --git a/package.lisp b/package.lisp
index 59359b7..82ca5c9 100644
--- a/package.lisp
+++ b/package.lisp
@@ -3,8 +3,13 @@
   (:export 
     #:dict-init #:dict-close #:with-dict
 
+    ; error
     #:dict-error #:dict-initialization-error #:dict-operation-error 
-    #:dict-error-message))
+    #:dict-error-message
+
+    ;dict object
+    #:dictionary-closed-p #:dictionary-path #:dictionary-operation-count
+    #:dictionary-created-at))
 
 
 (in-package :monastery)