title: Is there a read-only generic dictionary available in .NET?
body: <p>I'm returning a reference to a dictionary in my read only property.  How do I prevent consumers from changing my data?  If this were an <code>IList</code> I could simply return it <code>AsReadOnly</code>.  Is there something similar I can do with a dictionary?</p>
  
  <pre><code>Private _mydictionary As Dictionary(Of String, String)
  Public ReadOnly Property MyDictionary() As Dictionary(Of String, String)
      Get
          Return _mydictionary
      End Get
  End Property
  </code></pre>