Information We Receive Automatically
When you visit the Public Domain Literature Library, our servers record routine log data. This may include your IP address, the type of browser and device you are using, the date and time of your visit, the pages you view, and the referring website or application that led you to our catalogue. We use this information to diagnose technical issues, protect against abuse, and understand general usage patterns so that we can improve the reading experience.
Information You Provide Voluntarily
You may choose to send us a message through the contact email address listed on the site. If you do, we will receive the content of your message and any personal information you include, such as your name and email address. We use this only to respond to your inquiry and do not add it to any marketing list. We also retain site preferences you set (for example, text-display options) in your browser’s local storage so that your choices persist across visits.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
We use cookies and similar storage technologies for the following purposes:
- Essential cookies – to remember your session and preferences while you navigate the catalogue.
- Analytics cookies – where enabled, to collect anonymous aggregate data about how visitors use the site (for example, which pages are most popular).
- Advertising cookies – where enabled and if advertisements are displayed, to make ads more relevant to you and to measure their performance.
We may also use web beacons (small transparent images) in email communications or within the site to confirm delivery and track engagement, if you have enabled images.
Third-Party Cookies
Some pages may include content or services from third parties, such as embedded video players or social‑sharing buttons. Those providers may set their own cookies and other tracking technologies. We do not control those technologies, and we encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third‑party services you interact with.
Google Advertising Services
If advertising is displayed on the site, we may use Google AdSense or other Google advertising services. Google uses cookies to serve ads based on your previous visits to our site or other websites. You can learn more about how Google uses data from cookies at the Google Privacy & Terms site. To opt out of personalised advertising, visit the Google Ads Settings page.
How We Use Your Information
We process your information only for the following legitimate purposes:
- to operate, maintain, and improve the catalogue;
- to respond to your communications;
- to detect and prevent fraud or abuse;
- to comply with legal obligations; and
- with your consent, where required by law.
Service Providers
We may share limited data with trusted service providers who help us host the site, process analytics, or deliver advertisements. These providers are contractually bound to use the data only for the specific services they perform for us and to protect it with appropriate security measures.
Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your information against accidental loss, unauthorised access, alteration, or disclosure. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Data Retention
We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by applicable law. Log data is typically kept for a limited period before being anonymised or deleted. Messages you send us are retained only as long as needed to address your request and for reasonable record‑keeping.
Your Choices and Rights
You have the following options regarding your data:
- Browser controls – Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies, and to manage local storage. Please consult your browser’s help documentation.
- Consent controls – Where we rely on your consent for analytics or advertising cookies, you may withdraw consent at any time by adjusting your cookie preferences via the consent banner or settings panel (if available).
- Access, correction, deletion – Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal data. To exercise these rights, contact us at the email address below. We will respond within the timeframe required by law.
- Opting out of personalised advertising – You can opt out of interest‑based advertising through the Digital Advertising Alliance’s opt‑out tool, the Network Advertising Initiative’s opt‑out page, or directly via Google Ads Settings.
Children’s Privacy
Our catalogue is intended for a general audience and is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us, and we will take steps to delete it.
External Links
The site may contain links to external 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 services you visit.
International Access
This site is operated from the United Kingdom. If you access it from outside the UK, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the UK or other countries where our service providers operate. By using the site, you acknowledge that your data may be transferred to jurisdictions that may not have equivalent data‑protection laws to those in your country.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page. We encourage you to review it periodically.