How We Use Cookies and Similar Storage

This catalogue is operated by Anthology Editor Virginia Plath. To provide a reliable and personalised reading experience, we and certain service providers may place small text files (cookies) or use local storage on your device. This policy explains what types of storage we use, why we use them, and how you can control them.

Essential Storage

Some cookies are strictly necessary for the catalogue to function. They enable core features such as secure access, session management, and remembering your progress through a reading guide. These cookies are set in response to actions you take, such as setting privacy preferences or logging in. You cannot disable essential cookies while using the site, but your browser may allow you to block them; doing so may break core functionality.

Preference and Functional Storage

We may store your preferences, such as text size, theme, or language selection, so that your experience remains consistent across visits. These cookies are not strictly essential but improve usability. If you disable them, some customisations may not persist. For instance, if you choose a larger font while reading a guide like The Argonauts of California: being the reminiscenses of scenes and incidents that occurred in California in the early mining days — Text and Context, that preference can be saved for future visits.

Analytics Storage (Where Enabled)

Where analytics are enabled, we use first-party cookies and local storage to collect anonymous information about how visitors interact with the catalogue — for example, which titles are viewed most often, how users navigate between categories such as Adventure Picaresque Fiction or Science Fiction Utopias, and whether any errors occur. This data helps us improve the catalogue’s organisation and content. Analytics storage is non-essential; you may opt out as described below. The information gathered is aggregated and does not identify you personally.

Advertising Storage (Where Ads Are Displayed)

If advertising is displayed on certain pages, Google and its partners may use cookies and similar technologies to serve personalised or non-personalised ads based on your visits to this and other sites. These third-party cookies may be used for ad measurement, frequency capping, and to build interest profiles. We conditionally enable Google advertising technologies; where ads are not shown, no advertising cookies are set. You can manage your Google ad preferences or opt out of personalised advertising at any time through your Google account settings. Note that even if you opt out of personalised ads, you may still see non-personalised ads based on the content of the page you are viewing.

Session and Persistent Storage

Some cookies are session-based and expire when you close your browser. Others are persistent and remain on your device for a period set by the cookie owner, unless you clear them. We do not specify fixed durations here because they may vary; you can inspect individual cookie lifetimes in your browser’s developer tools or cookie manager. Persistent cookies help us remember your preferences and settings across visits.

Third-Party Storage

In addition to our own first-party cookies, third-party services (such as Google for analytics and advertising, where enabled) may set their own cookies. We do not control these third-party technologies. You should review the privacy and cookie policies of those services for detailed information. For example, if you watch an embedded video from a third-party platform, that platform may place its own cookies on your device.

Your Consent Choices

Upon your first visit, you will be presented with a consent banner that allows you to accept or decline non-essential cookies (analytics and advertising). Essential cookies are always set. You may withdraw or change your consent at any time by clicking the “Cookie Settings” link available in the footer of every page. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal. If you decline analytics cookies, we will still collect basic aggregated data through essential cookies, but not for analytical purposes.

Browser Controls

Most browsers allow you to view, block, or delete cookies and local storage through their settings. Please refer to your browser’s help documentation for instructions. Note that disabling all cookies may impair the catalogue’s performance and prevent certain features from working. For example, you may not be able to save your reading progress in a guide like Bully McGrane — Reading Notes.

Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. When we do, we will revise the notice at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies and similar technologies.

If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us at editor@inesb.com.