Information We Collect
When you visit the Public Domain Literature Library, routine server logs automatically record certain technical information. This includes your IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring page, and the date and time of each request. This data is used to maintain and improve the site, diagnose technical issues, and analyse aggregate usage patterns.
If you choose to send a message via the contact form or email address provided on the site, we receive the content of your message and your name and email address if you supply them. We treat these communications as voluntary and use them only to respond to your inquiry.
The site may store small pieces of information on your device, commonly known as cookies, to remember your preferences (such as text size or display options) and to enable certain features. Where enabled, analytics services may set their own cookies to track page visits and interactions. Where advertising is displayed, advertising networks may place cookies and similar technologies to deliver relevant advertisements and measure their performance.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
Cookies are small text files stored by your browser. We use session cookies (which expire when you close your browser) and persistent cookies (which remain until you delete them or they expire).
Where Google advertising services are displayed, Google may use cookies and web beacons to serve ads based on your visits to this site and other websites. You can learn about Google’s practices and opt out of certain tracking by visiting the Google Advertising & Privacy page.
Third-party service providers, including analytics and advertising partners, may use cookies, web beacons, or similar technologies to collect information about your browsing activities over time and across different websites. We do not control these third-party technologies and encourage you to review the privacy policies of those services.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- To operate, maintain, and improve the catalogue and its features.
- To understand how readers use the site and to develop new content.
- To communicate with you if you have contacted us.
- To detect and prevent technical issues or misuse.
- Where advertising is enabled, to support the availability of free content.
Data Sharing and Service Providers
We do not sell your personal information. We may share non-personal, aggregated data with third parties for analytical or reporting purposes.
We may engage trusted third-party service providers to perform functions on our behalf, such as hosting, analytics, and advertising. These providers have access to personal information only as necessary to perform their tasks and are contractually obligated to maintain confidentiality and security.
Data Security
We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure, or access. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Data Retention
We retain server logs and analytics data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this policy, after which they are deleted or anonymised. Contact messages are retained only as long as needed to address your inquiry and for record-keeping purposes. Cookies may persist according to their own expiration settings.
Your Choices and Rights
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies, and you can set preferences for certain websites. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of the site.
Where analytics or advertising are enabled, you may opt out of certain tracking by using the opt-out tools provided by the relevant services (e.g., Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on or the Google Ads Settings page).
Depending on your location, you may have rights under applicable privacy laws, such as the right to access, correct, or delete personal information we hold about you, or to restrict or object to processing. To exercise any such rights, please contact us using the information below.
Children’s Privacy
This site is not directed to children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so that we can delete it.
External Links
The catalogue may contain links to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
International Access
This site is operated from Canada. If you access the site from outside Canada, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in Canada where our servers and service providers are located. By using the site, you consent to the transfer of your information to Canada, which may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page. Your continued use of the site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.