Cookie Policy

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to the website owners.

Britain Electronic Library uses cookies to improve your browsing experience, personalise content, and analyse how our website is used. This Cookie Policy explains how we use cookies and similar technologies.

Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies

These cookies are necessary for our website to function properly. They enable basic functions like page navigation, access to secure areas, and form submissions. Without these cookies, the website cannot function properly.

• Session management cookies
• Authentication cookies
• Security cookies
• Load balancing cookies

Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. This helps us improve our website's performance and user experience.

• Google Analytics cookies
• Page view tracking
• User journey analysis
• Performance monitoring

Functional Cookies

These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages.

• Preference settings
• Language selection
• Font size adjustments
• Accessibility features

Marketing Cookies

These cookies are used to track visitors across websites. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for individual users and thereby more valuable for publishers and third-party advertisers.

• Social media integration
• Content personalisation
• Advertising effectiveness measurement
• Cross-platform tracking

Cookie Duration

Cookies can be classified by their duration:

Session Cookies

These are temporary cookies that are erased when you close your browser. They are used to maintain your session while browsing our website.

Persistent Cookies

These cookies remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them. They help us recognise you when you return to our website and remember your preferences.

Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies on our website are set by third-party services that appear on our pages. These include:

• Google Analytics: Used to analyse website traffic and user behaviour
• Social Media Platforms: Enable social sharing and embedded content
• Content Delivery Networks: Improve website performance and loading times
• Font Services: Provide web fonts for better typography

These third parties may use the information they collect through cookies for their own purposes, in accordance with their respective privacy policies.

Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have several options for managing cookies:

Our Cookie Management Tool

When you first visit our website, you'll see a cookie banner that allows you to:

• Accept all cookies
• Accept only necessary cookies
• Customise your cookie preferences

You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the cookie settings link in our website footer.

Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings preferences. You can:

• Block all cookies
• Accept only first-party cookies
• Clear existing cookies
• Set up notifications when cookies are being sent

Browser-Specific Instructions:

• Chrome: Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data
• Firefox: Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
• Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Cookies and website data
• Edge: Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Cookies and site data

Impact of Disabling Cookies

Disabling certain cookies may affect your experience on our website:

• Essential Cookies: Disabling these may prevent core website functionality
• Analytics Cookies: We won't be able to improve our website based on usage data
• Functional Cookies: Your preferences and settings won't be remembered
• Marketing Cookies: Content and recommendations may be less relevant

Mobile Devices

Mobile devices may not use traditional cookies but similar technologies such as:

• Local storage
• Session storage
• Device identifiers
• App-specific tracking technologies

You can usually control these through your device's privacy settings or our mobile app preferences.

Security and Privacy

We implement appropriate security measures to protect cookie data:

• Secure transmission protocols
• Encryption of sensitive data
• Regular security audits
• Access controls and authentication

Cookies do not typically contain personal information that can directly identify you, but they may be linked to personal data stored in our systems.

Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on our website
• Updating the "Last updated" date
• Displaying a notice on our website
• Requesting renewed consent where required

Contact Information

If you have any questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us: