docs(release): add 9.7.0 changelog entry

Add the 9.7.0 release notes before running the scripted release workflow so preflight and prepare can run from a clean main branch.

Refs #455
Refs #456

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -9,6 +9,42 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [9.7.0] - 2026-04-05 - "Windows Reliability and Guidance Cleanup"
+
+> Installable skill library update for Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Antigravity, and related AI coding assistants.
+
+Start here:
+
+- Install: `npx antigravity-awesome-skills`
+- Choose your tool: [README -> Choose Your Tool](https://github.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills#choose-your-tool)
+- Best skills by tool: [README -> Best Skills By Tool](https://github.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills#best-skills-by-tool)
+- Bundles: [docs/users/bundles.md](https://github.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills/blob/main/docs/users/bundles.md)
+- Workflows: [docs/users/workflows.md](https://github.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills/blob/main/docs/users/workflows.md)
+
+This release focuses on repository reliability rather than new skill volume. It merges the Windows validation and activation hardening from PR #457, adds stronger smoke coverage for the batch activation path, and finishes a broad `## When to Use` cleanup so the repository stays within the current quality bar without carrying contributor-side generated drift.
+
+## New Skills
+
+- **None in this release** - `9.7.0` is a reliability and documentation-hardening release.
+
+## Improvements
+
+- **Windows activation reliability** - makes `scripts/activate-skills.bat` safer around helper discovery, Python probing, archive-prefix overrides, and fallback activation behavior.
+- **Cross-platform validation consistency** - normalizes path handling in registry and validation utilities so Windows path separators no longer create false negatives in tooling and tests.
+- **Windows smoke coverage** - adds dedicated batch-script smoke coverage, including the missing-helper fallback path, and refreshes supporting installer and plugin tests.
+- **Skill guidance cleanup** - adds explicit `## When to Use` sections across a large set of `SKILL.md` files so trigger intent is clearer and warning-budget checks stay green.
+- **Release hygiene** - keeps contributor PRs source-only while letting `main` own the generated catalog sync after merge.
+
+## Who should care
+
+- **Windows users** get a more reliable activation path and fewer path-related validation surprises.
+- **Maintainers** get cleaner contributor PR handling, better smoke coverage, and a release path aligned with the current generated-artifact contract.
+- **Anyone browsing skills directly** gets clearer `When to Use` guidance across a much larger portion of the library.
+
+## Credits
+
+- **[@Al-Garadi](https://github.com/Al-Garadi)** for the Windows validation and skill-guidance cleanup merged in PR #457.
+
 ## [9.6.0] - 2026-04-04 - "Psychology and SEO Growth Packs"
 
 > Installable skill library update for Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Antigravity, and related AI coding assistants.