### Problem
1. Each package has a `CONTRIBUTING.rst` file and each file contained
references to supported Python runtimes and specific dependency
versions, etc.
2. The references to supported runtimes and needed dependencies needed
to be updated every time we changed the install environment, which was
unnecessary toil.

### Solution
1. Package-level `CONTRIBUTING.rst` files in handwritten libraries
simply point to a centralized file in the repository root.
2. Removed all references from both the package-level mini-files and the
repository's centralized file that used to spell out which Python
runtime versions apply to this package. Instead we now point users to
the `noxfile.py`, `setup.py`, and `pyproject.toml` as sources of truth
for runtimes and other dependencies.

### Out of Scope/Future work
1. Update GAPIC templates to point at the central `CONTRIBUTING.rst`
file.
2. Failing packages that are being processed independently: 
   * #18041
   * #18142
   * #18157

🤖 I have created a release *beep* *boop*
---


<details><summary>django-google-spanner: 5.0.1</summary>

##
[5.0.1](django-google-spanner-v5.0.0...django-google-spanner-v5.0.1)
(2026-08-21)


### Bug Fixes

* **django-spanner:** declare django dependency in setup.py
([#18044](#18044))
([c341469](c341469))


### Documentation

* **django-spanner, common-protos:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst
pointers
([#18041](#18041))
([2b056ab](2b056ab))
</details>

<details><summary>gapic-generator: 1.39.0</summary>

##
[1.39.0](gapic-generator-v1.38.0...gapic-generator-v1.39.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* **generator:** add fallback compatibility imports for google-api-core
helpers
([#17999](#17999))
([9c13ae2](9c13ae2))


### Bug Fixes

* **generator:** check for api_version header in metadata list
([#18015](#18015))
([0e63510](0e63510))
* **generator:** move version checks after __all__ in __init__.py
temlate
([#18100](#18100))
([d0efb4d](d0efb4d))
* **generator:** switch core_deps_from_source to DEFAULT_PYTHON_VERSION
([#18050](#18050))
([895ffa2](895ffa2))


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>gcp-sphinx-docfx-yaml: 3.3.2</summary>

##
[3.3.2](gcp-sphinx-docfx-yaml-v3.3.1...gcp-sphinx-docfx-yaml-v3.3.2)
(2026-08-21)


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-ads-admanager: 0.10.2</summary>

##
[0.10.2](google-ads-admanager-v0.10.1...google-ads-admanager-v0.10.2)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update googleapis and regenerate
([#18087](#18087))
([db1622a](db1622a))
</details>

<details><summary>google-ads-datamanager: 0.9.2</summary>

##
[0.9.2](google-ads-datamanager-v0.9.1...google-ads-datamanager-v0.9.2)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update googleapis and regenerate
([#18087](#18087))
([db1622a](db1622a))
</details>

<details><summary>google-api-core: 2.35.0</summary>

##
[2.35.0](google-api-core-v2.34.0...google-api-core-v2.35.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* **api_core:** add deprecation warning for grpcio &lt; 1.83.0 for PQC
([#18045](#18045))
([7e2e23e](7e2e23e))


### Bug Fixes

* **api_core:** improve rest path validation
([#17753](#17753))
([63bfb96](63bfb96))
* **api_core:** support suppress_metrics_header fallback in
AuthMetadataPlugin
([#18029](#18029))
([dd2000d](dd2000d))


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-apps-chat: 0.10.5</summary>

##
[0.10.5](google-apps-chat-v0.10.4...google-apps-chat-v0.10.5)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update googleapis and regenerate
([#18087](#18087))
([db1622a](db1622a))
* update sources and regenerate
([#18164](#18164))
([5ff8274](5ff8274))
</details>

<details><summary>google-auth: 2.57.0</summary>

##
[2.57.0](google-auth-v2.56.3...google-auth-v2.57.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* **auth:** add deprecation warning for grpcio &lt; 1.83.0 (PQC support)
([#18070](#18070))
([68bdaba](68bdaba))


### Bug Fixes

* **auth:** parse hostname for mTLS and PSC endpoint certificate rotat…
([#18153](#18153))
([b642373](b642373))
* **auth:** prevent TypeError and support home-dir cert fallback for X…
([#18016](#18016))
([b9a1379](b9a1379))


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-auth-httplib2: 0.4.2</summary>

##
[0.4.2](google-auth-httplib2-v0.4.1...google-auth-httplib2-v0.4.2)
(2026-08-21)


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-auth-oauthlib: 1.4.1</summary>

##
[1.4.1](google-auth-oauthlib-v1.4.0...google-auth-oauthlib-v1.4.1)
(2026-08-21)


### Bug Fixes

* **google-auth-oauthlib:** prevent port re-use on windows
([#18166](#18166))
([e20796a](e20796a))


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-alloydb: 0.11.1</summary>

##
[0.11.1](google-cloud-alloydb-v0.11.0...google-cloud-alloydb-v0.11.1)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update sources and regenerate
([#18164](#18164))
([5ff8274](5ff8274))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-audit-log: 0.6.2</summary>

##
[0.6.2](google-cloud-audit-log-v0.6.1...google-cloud-audit-log-v0.6.2)
(2026-08-21)


### Bug Fixes

* `google-cloud-audit-log` wheel installs unintended top-level `docs`
package
([#17271](#17271))
([ad99ed1](ad99ed1))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-auditmanager: 0.3.1</summary>

##
[0.3.1](google-cloud-auditmanager-v0.3.0...google-cloud-auditmanager-v0.3.1)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update googleapis and regenerate
([#18087](#18087))
([db1622a](db1622a))
* update sources and regenerate
([#18164](#18164))
([5ff8274](5ff8274))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-automl: 2.20.1</summary>

##
[2.20.1](google-cloud-automl-v2.20.0...google-cloud-automl-v2.20.1)
(2026-08-21)


### Bug Fixes

* **automl:** remove unused libcst extra and constraints
([#18056](#18056))
([9ba4449](9ba4449))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-bigquery: 3.44.0</summary>

##
[3.44.0](google-cloud-bigquery-v3.43.0...google-cloud-bigquery-v3.44.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* add PendingDeprecationWarning for to_dataframe and to_arrow conversion
methods
([#18021](#18021))
([6bebf30](6bebf30))
* **bigquery:** add PendingDeprecationWarning for from_dataframe methods
([#18048](#18048))
([b84b754](b84b754))
* **bigquery:** support queryResultsFormat and compressionCodec in
query_and_wait
([#18027](#18027))
([d172408](d172408))
* check python and dependency versions in bigquery and ndb
([#18075](#18075))
([62ff6f3](62ff6f3))


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-bigquery-reservation: 1.26.0</summary>

##
[1.26.0](google-cloud-bigquery-reservation-v1.25.0...google-cloud-bigquery-reservation-v1.26.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update googleapis and regenerate
([#18087](#18087))
([db1622a](db1622a))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-bigquery-storage: 2.41.0</summary>

##
[2.41.0](google-cloud-bigquery-storage-v2.40.0...google-cloud-bigquery-storage-v2.41.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* add pandas-gbq to optional extras
([#18020](#18020))
([fe91d93](fe91d93))
* **bigquery-storage:** add deprecation warning for to_dataframe
([#18022](#18022))
([57e7822](57e7822))
* update sources and regenerate
([#18164](#18164))
([5ff8274](5ff8274))


### Bug Fixes

* **storage:** support updated GapicCallable metadata in tests
([#18031](#18031))
([24fe2e3](24fe2e3))


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-bigtable: 2.43.0</summary>

##
[2.43.0](google-cloud-bigtable-v2.42.0...google-cloud-bigtable-v2.43.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update sources and regenerate
([#18164](#18164))
([5ff8274](5ff8274))


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-build: 3.39.0</summary>

##
[3.39.0](google-cloud-build-v3.38.1...google-cloud-build-v3.39.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update sources and regenerate
([#18164](#18164))
([5ff8274](5ff8274))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-commerceproducer: 0.1.2</summary>

##
[0.1.2](google-cloud-commerceproducer-v0.1.1...google-cloud-commerceproducer-v0.1.2)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update googleapis and regenerate
([#18087](#18087))
([db1622a](db1622a))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-compute: 1.51.0</summary>

##
[1.51.0](google-cloud-compute-v1.50.0...google-cloud-compute-v1.51.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update googleapis and regenerate
([#18087](#18087))
([db1622a](db1622a))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-compute-v1beta: 0.12.2</summary>

##
[0.12.2](google-cloud-compute-v1beta-v0.12.1...google-cloud-compute-v1beta-v0.12.2)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update googleapis and regenerate
([#18087](#18087))
([db1622a](db1622a))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-core: 2.7.0</summary>

##
[2.7.0](google-cloud-core-v2.6.1...google-cloud-core-v2.7.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* **core:** implement PEP 0810 explicit lazy imports in
google-cloud-core
([#18052](#18052))
([5a7ed02](5a7ed02))


### Bug Fixes

* use lowercase x-goog-api-client header
([#18064](#18064))
([d465d1e](d465d1e))


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-dataform: 0.11.3</summary>

##
[0.11.3](google-cloud-dataform-v0.11.2...google-cloud-dataform-v0.11.3)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update googleapis and regenerate
([#18087](#18087))
([db1622a](db1622a))
* update sources and regenerate
([#18164](#18164))
([5ff8274](5ff8274))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-datastore: 2.26.1</summary>

##
[2.26.1](google-cloud-datastore-v2.26.0...google-cloud-datastore-v2.26.1)
(2026-08-21)


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-dns: 0.37.1</summary>

##
[0.37.1](google-cloud-dns-v0.37.0...google-cloud-dns-v0.37.1)
(2026-08-21)


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-documentai-toolbox: 0.17.3</summary>

##
[0.17.3](google-cloud-documentai-toolbox-v0.17.2...google-cloud-documentai-toolbox-v0.17.3)
(2026-08-21)


### Bug Fixes

* **documentai-toolbox:** contain split_pdf output to output_path
([#18063](#18063))
([d206212](d206212))
* **documentai-toolbox:** enable autoescape in export_hocr_str
([#18140](#18140))
([0d671d2](0d671d2))


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-error-reporting: 1.16.1</summary>

##
[1.16.1](google-cloud-error-reporting-v1.16.0...google-cloud-error-reporting-v1.16.1)
(2026-08-21)


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-firestore: 2.29.0</summary>

##
[2.29.0](google-cloud-firestore-v2.28.1...google-cloud-firestore-v2.29.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update googleapis and regenerate
([#18087](#18087))
([db1622a](db1622a))


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-iam: 2.25.0</summary>

##
[2.25.0](google-cloud-iam-v2.24.1...google-cloud-iam-v2.25.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update googleapis and regenerate
([#18087](#18087))
([db1622a](db1622a))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-logging: 3.16.3</summary>

##
[3.16.3](google-cloud-logging-v3.16.2...google-cloud-logging-v3.16.3)
(2026-08-21)


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-monitoring-dashboards: 3.0.0</summary>

##
[3.0.0](google-cloud-monitoring-dashboards-v2.22.0...google-cloud-monitoring-dashboards-v3.0.0)
(2026-08-21)


### ⚠ BREAKING CHANGES

* Remove erroneous google/monitoring/dashboard clients
([#18165](#18165))

### Bug Fixes

* Remove erroneous google/monitoring/dashboard clients
([#18165](#18165))
([fb0c1b9](fb0c1b9))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-ndb: 2.6.0</summary>

##
[2.6.0](google-cloud-ndb-v2.5.1...google-cloud-ndb-v2.6.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* check python and dependency versions in bigquery and ndb
([#18075](#18075))
([62ff6f3](62ff6f3))


### Bug Fixes

* **ndb:** avoid unbound lock in delete callback
([#17969](#17969))
([c513b39](c513b39))
* **ndb:** use the single-argument generator.throw() signature
([#18159](#18159))
([dfb0e36](dfb0e36))


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-oracledatabase: 0.6.2</summary>

##
[0.6.2](google-cloud-oracledatabase-v0.6.1...google-cloud-oracledatabase-v0.6.2)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update googleapis and regenerate
([#18087](#18087))
([db1622a](db1622a))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-pubsub: 2.39.2</summary>

##
[2.39.2](google-cloud-pubsub-v2.39.1...google-cloud-pubsub-v2.39.2)
(2026-08-21)


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-recaptcha-enterprise: 1.33.0</summary>

##
[1.33.0](google-cloud-recaptcha-enterprise-v1.32.0...google-cloud-recaptcha-enterprise-v1.33.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update googleapis and regenerate
([#18087](#18087))
([db1622a](db1622a))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-retail: 2.12.0</summary>

##
[2.12.0](google-cloud-retail-v2.11.0...google-cloud-retail-v2.12.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update googleapis and regenerate
([#18087](#18087))
([db1622a](db1622a))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-runtimeconfig: 0.37.1</summary>

##
[0.37.1](google-cloud-runtimeconfig-v0.37.0...google-cloud-runtimeconfig-v0.37.1)
(2026-08-21)


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-spanner: 3.70.0</summary>

##
[3.70.0](google-cloud-spanner-v3.69.1...google-cloud-spanner-v3.70.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* check python and dependency versions in spanner packages
([#18177](#18177))
([b4d9717](b4d9717))
* **spanner:** add DataBoost and auto_partition_mode support to DBAPI
driver
([#18161](#18161))
([5bc3899](5bc3899))


### Bug Fixes

* **spanner:** buffer returned rows in autocommit DML statements
([#18152](#18152))
([7f8a552](7f8a552))


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-storage: 3.14.0</summary>

##
[3.14.0](google-cloud-storage-v3.13.1...google-cloud-storage-v3.14.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* **storage:** expose metadata parameter in asyncio gRPC calls
([#17634](#17634))
([aaa263d](aaa263d))
* **storage:** expose object_metadata on AsyncMultiRangeDownloader
([#17411](#17411))
([a0171ae](a0171ae))


### Bug Fixes

* **storage:** add retry support for finalize and close in
AsyncAppendableObjectWriter
([#17733](#17733))
([92bb6dc](92bb6dc))
* **storage:** ensure bidi-gRPC stream is cleaned up on open failure and
close
([#18119](#18119))
([ac0dfd1](ac0dfd1))
* **storage:** resume bidi reads after idle-stream aborts
([#18061](#18061))
([3fe1e21](3fe1e21))
* use lowercase x-goog-api-client header
([#18064](#18064))
([d465d1e](d465d1e))


### Documentation

* correct typos and grammar in README
([#16535](#16535))
([593a8b0](593a8b0))
* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-storage-control: 1.14.0</summary>

##
[1.14.0](google-cloud-storage-control-v1.13.0...google-cloud-storage-control-v1.14.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update googleapis and regenerate
([#18087](#18087))
([db1622a](db1622a))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-support: 0.5.3</summary>

##
[0.5.3](google-cloud-support-v0.5.2...google-cloud-support-v0.5.3)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update sources and regenerate
([#18164](#18164))
([5ff8274](5ff8274))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-testutils: 1.9.3</summary>

##
[1.9.3](google-cloud-testutils-v1.9.2...google-cloud-testutils-v1.9.3)
(2026-08-21)


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>google-cloud-vectorsearch: 0.11.2</summary>

##
[0.11.2](google-cloud-vectorsearch-v0.11.1...google-cloud-vectorsearch-v0.11.2)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update googleapis and regenerate
([#18087](#18087))
([db1622a](db1622a))
</details>

<details><summary>google-devicesandservices-health: 0.1.2</summary>

##
[0.1.2](google-devicesandservices-health-v0.1.1...google-devicesandservices-health-v0.1.2)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* update sources and regenerate
([#18164](#18164))
([5ff8274](5ff8274))
</details>

<details><summary>google-resumable-media: 2.10.2</summary>

##
[2.10.2](google-resumable-media-v2.10.1...google-resumable-media-v2.10.2)
(2026-08-21)


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>googleapis-common-protos: 1.75.2</summary>

##
[1.75.2](googleapis-common-protos-v1.75.1...googleapis-common-protos-v1.75.2)
(2026-08-21)


### Documentation

* **django-spanner, common-protos:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst
pointers
([#18041](#18041))
([2b056ab](2b056ab))
</details>

<details><summary>pandas-gbq: 0.35.2</summary>

##
[0.35.2](pandas-gbq-v0.35.1...pandas-gbq-v0.35.2)
(2026-08-21)


### Bug Fixes

* **pandas-gbq:** reject backticks in parse_table_id
([#18156](#18156))
([f687060](f687060))
</details>

<details><summary>proto-plus: 1.28.4</summary>

##
[1.28.4](proto-plus-v1.28.3...proto-plus-v1.28.4)
(2026-08-21)


### Documentation

* **handwritten:** centralize CONTRIBUTING.rst pointers
([#17642](#17642))
([23b9499](23b9499))
</details>

<details><summary>sqlalchemy-spanner: 1.20.0</summary>

##
[1.20.0](sqlalchemy-spanner-v1.19.0...sqlalchemy-spanner-v1.20.0)
(2026-08-21)


### Features

* **sqlalchemy-spanner:** export MAX_SIZE constant
([#17922](#17922))
([e15c21d](e15c21d))
* **sqlalchemy-spanner:** native UUID data type support in dialect
([#17913](#17913))
([6431932](6431932))


### Bug Fixes

* bump sqlparse from 0.5.5 to 0.6.0 in /packages/sqlalchemy-spanner
([#18136](#18136))
([3ba7d02](3ba7d02))
* **sqlalchemy-spanner:** fix get_multi_indexes crash on SEARCH indexes
([#17907](#17907))
([5b2da81](5b2da81))
* **sqlalchemy-spanner:** register TOKENLIST in _type_map for reflection
([#17911](#17911))
([788208b](788208b))
</details>

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