Our Use of Cookies and Similar Technologies
This page explains how the Public Domain Literature Library and its service providers may store and access information on your device when you visit our catalogue at joeem.com. We believe in straightforward explanations, so we have described each type of storage and what it does.
What Are Cookies?
A cookie is a small text file that a website places on your computer, tablet or phone. Cookies help the site remember your actions and preferences over time. Other storage technologies, such as local storage and session storage, work similarly but may hold more data or persist differently. Where this policy refers to cookies, it includes those other technologies where they are used.
Categories of Storage We Use
Essential (Strictly Necessary) Storage
Certain storage is required for the catalogue to function. For example, we may set a cookie to remember that you have dismissed a notice about cookie choices, or to keep your session secure while you browse. These cookies do not track you across other sites and are not used for marketing. Because they are necessary, they are set by default and cannot be disabled through our consent controls. You can block them through your browser settings, but doing so may break parts of the site.
Preference Storage
Where you have chosen a particular setting—such as a text size, a layout preference, or the way you wish to view a book’s reading notes—we may store that choice in a cookie or local storage. This information stays on your device and helps us present the catalogue the way you like. Preference storage is not essential, but it improves your experience. If you disable it, you may need to set your preferences each time you visit.
Analytics Storage (Where Enabled)
To understand how readers use the catalogue—which pages are popular, which books are viewed, how people navigate—we may use analytics storage. This is typically provided by a third-party service such as Google Analytics. The data collected is aggregated and anonymous; it does not identify you personally. Analytics storage is set only if you have given your consent (where a consent mechanism is displayed). You may withdraw consent at any time.
Advertising Storage (Where Ads Are Displayed)
Some pages of the catalogue may display advertisements served by Google or other advertising partners. Where ads are shown, Google may use cookies to personalise the ads you see, to measure their performance, and to prevent you from seeing the same ad too often. These cookies may track your visits across different websites. We use advertising storage only if you have consented (where a consent tool is presented). If you do not consent, no advertising cookies will be set, though you may still see non-personalised ads. You can also manage your Google ad preferences directly at Google’s Ad Settings page.
First-Party and Third-Party Cookies
First-party cookies are set by the Public Domain Literature Library itself. Third-party cookies are set by services we use, such as Google Analytics or Google AdSense. These third parties have their own privacy and cookie policies, which we encourage you to review. We do not control how they use the data they collect.
Session and Persistent Storage
Session storage (including session cookies) is temporary and is erased when you close your browser. Persistent storage remains on your device for a set period or until you manually delete it. The exact duration varies by cookie and is determined by the service that sets it. We do not specify fixed durations here because they may change; you can inspect individual cookies in your browser’s developer tools.
Your Choices and Consent
When you first visit the catalogue, a cookie consent banner may appear (if we have configured one). Through that banner, you can choose to accept or decline optional categories such as analytics and advertising. Your choice is stored in an essential cookie so that the site remembers it on subsequent visits.
You can withdraw your consent at any time by clearing your cookies or by using the consent settings link that may be available in the footer of the site. Withdrawing consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
Browser Controls
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can block all cookies, delete existing cookies, or set the browser to alert you when a cookie is being placed. Please note that disabling cookies—especially essential ones—may prevent the catalogue from working correctly. For detailed instructions, consult your browser’s help documentation.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the technologies we use or in legal requirements. When we do, we will revise the date at the top of this page (if one is displayed) and may notify you through the site. Continued use of the catalogue after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact
If you have questions about our use of cookies, you may write to our editor, Ernest Conan, at editor@joeem.com. We will do our best to answer your queries promptly.