Information We Receive Automatically
When you visit the Public Domain Literature Library, our servers record routine log data: your IP address, browser type, operating system, the referring page, the pages you request, and the time of each request. This information helps us diagnose technical issues, protect against abuse, and understand general usage patterns. We do not correlate this data with any personal identifier beyond what is necessary for security and operations.
Information You Provide Voluntarily
If you send a message to the editor via the contact email, we receive your email address and any information you include in your message. We use this solely to respond to your inquiry and do not add it to any marketing list. We also store certain preferences you may set on the site (such as text size or display options) in your browser's local storage or as a cookie; this data remains on your device unless you clear it.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies for basic site functionality (e.g., remembering your preference for a larger font). Where enabled, we may also use analytics services—such as a privacy-respecting analytics tool—that set cookies to collect anonymous aggregate data about page visits, referral sources, and browsing behaviour. These cookies do not identify you personally. If advertising is displayed on the site, third-party ad providers may place cookies or use web beacons to deliver relevant ads and measure their performance. These third parties have their own privacy policies governing the data they collect.
Google Advertising Services
Where Google advertising services are displayed, Google may use cookies to serve ads based on your visits to this and other sites. You can learn more about how Google uses data and opt out of personalised advertising by visiting the Google Ads Settings page. We do not control Google's data practices.
Web Beacons
Emails we send (if any) and certain pages may contain small graphic images called web beacons that allow us to count readers and understand whether a message was opened. These beacons do not collect personal information beyond what is already in the email header.
Purposes of Processing
We process the data described above for the following purposes: to operate and maintain the catalogue, to improve user experience, to ensure security and prevent fraud, to comply with legal obligations, and, where you have consented, to show relevant advertising. We do not sell your personal information to third parties.
Service Providers
We may engage limited service providers (e.g., hosting, analytics, email delivery) who have access to personal data only as necessary to perform their services and are contractually bound to protect it. These providers are not permitted to use your data for their own purposes.
Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your data against loss, unauthorised access, and misuse. However, no internet transmission or storage system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Data Retention
We retain server logs and analytics data for a period necessary to fulfil the purposes described above, after which they are deleted or anonymised. Messages sent to the editor are retained only as long as needed to address your inquiry and for legitimate record-keeping. Retention periods are reviewed periodically.
Your Choices and Rights
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. If you disable cookies, some features of the site may not function properly. You can opt out of analytics cookies where a consent mechanism is provided on the site. For personalised advertising from Google and other ad networks, you can visit the relevant opt-out pages (e.g., the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page). Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or port your personal data, as well as to restrict or object to processing. To exercise these rights, contact the editor at the email address provided on the site.
Children's Privacy
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us so we can delete it. The catalogue includes works that may be of interest to younger readers, but we do not target content based on age.
External Links
The catalogue may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing any personal information.
International Access
This site is operated from the United Kingdom. If you access it from outside the UK, your data may be transferred to and processed in the UK. By using the site, you acknowledge that your data may be subject to laws that differ from those in your country. We take steps to ensure that any such transfers comply with applicable data protection requirements.
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.