How This Site Uses Storage Technologies
This page explains the types of data storage — often called cookies — that may be placed on your device when you visit the Public Domain Literature Library. We believe in straightforward, honest disclosure. Nothing here is intended to track you across unrelated websites without your awareness.
Essential Storage
Certain storage is strictly necessary for the catalogue to function. This includes a session cookie that remembers your current visit so that search results and reading preferences are maintained as you move between pages. Without this storage, basic navigation would not work reliably. Essential storage is always active and does not require your prior consent.
Preference Storage
Where you choose to adjust display settings — such as text size or a dark-mode toggle — those choices may be saved in a small piece of persistent storage on your device. This is purely for your convenience and does not collect any information that could identify you. For example, if you prefer a larger font while reading The Story of a Bad Boy — Reading Companion, that setting can be retained across visits.
Analytics Storage (Where Enabled)
We may use a privacy-respecting analytics service to understand which catalogue pages are most popular and how visitors reach them. This storage is non-essential: if enabled, a cookie records an anonymous, random identifier and a timestamp. No personal data is transmitted. You can opt out of analytics storage at any time using the consent controls described below. The aggregated insights help us improve the catalogue, for instance by identifying which reading companions — such as The Zeppelin's Passenger — Story, Setting & Ideas — are most valued by readers.
Advertising Storage (Where Ads Are Displayed)
Some pages may display advertisements served by Google. Where ads appear, Google may place one or more cookies on your device to tailor the ads you see, limit how often you see the same ad, and measure ad performance. These cookies are third-party, persistent, and subject to Google’s own privacy policies. We do not control which advertising cookies are set. If you prefer not to receive personalised ads, you can adjust your Google Ads settings or disable advertising storage entirely through the consent tool on this site.
First-Party and Third-Party Cookies
First-party cookies are set by this website and are used for the essential and preference purposes described above. Third-party cookies are set by services we may incorporate, such as Google’s advertising network. We do not intentionally embed other third-party trackers. For example, no third-party social media buttons or embedded content from other platforms are used that would set cookies without your interaction.
Session and Persistent Storage
Session storage expires when you close your browser. Persistent storage remains on your device for a period determined by the service that set it — typically a few months for analytics or advertising purposes. We do not specify fixed durations because they may vary by provider. You can always clear persistent storage through your browser settings.
Local Storage
In addition to cookies, we may use browser local storage to remember interface preferences. Local storage stays on your device until you clear it manually. It is not sent to our servers. This is similar to the way some reading companions, like Billy Baxter's Letters — Inside the Classic, might store your progress in a particular note if that feature were implemented.
Your Choices
When you first visit the site, a consent banner allows you to accept or decline non-essential storage categories (analytics and advertising). You can change your decision at any time by clicking the “Cookie Settings” link in the site footer. Withdrawing consent for a category will stop future storage from that category but will not remove cookies already placed; you can delete those through your browser settings. The consent banner itself does not set any cookies until you make a choice.
Browser Controls
Most web browsers give you the ability to view, block, or delete all cookies and site data. Instructions are usually found in the “Privacy” or “Settings” section of your browser. Please note that disabling essential storage may cause parts of the catalogue to behave unexpectedly — for example, search results may not load correctly, or your preference for a dark-mode theme may be lost.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy if our use of storage technologies changes. Any revision will be posted on this page. We encourage you to review it periodically to stay informed about how we use storage technologies.
If you have questions about how storage is used on this site, you are welcome to write to the manuscript reviewer at the address listed on our contact page.