Our Use of Cookies and Similar Technologies
Modern History Library respects your privacy and is committed to being transparent about the technologies we use on our website. This policy explains what cookies and similar storage technologies are, how we use them, and the choices you have regarding their use.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, remember your preferences, and provide information to site owners. Similar technologies, such as local storage, may also be used to store data on your device. These technologies help us deliver a smoother browsing experience, for instance by retaining your reading preferences or the last page you visited in a catalogue section like 'Revolutions'.
How We Use Cookies
We use cookies for the following purposes:
- Essential Cookies: These are necessary for the website to function properly. They enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. Without these cookies, some parts of the site may not work as intended. For example, they help maintain your session when you navigate between pages.
- Preference Cookies: These remember your choices, such as your preferred language or region, and provide enhanced, more personal features. They may also remember changes you have made to text size, fonts, and other customizable parts of the site. If you select a particular reading guide for a title like 'The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet', a preference cookie can keep that view consistent across visits.
- Analytics Cookies: Where enabled, these help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. This allows us to improve the site's performance and content. For instance, we can learn which catalogue sections—such as 'Modern Nations'—are most frequently accessed, and adjust navigation accordingly.
- Advertising Cookies: If advertisements are displayed on our site, we may use cookies to make those ads more relevant to you. These cookies track your browsing habits across websites and build a profile of your interests. We may use Google advertising technologies for this purpose, where ads are shown. This means you might see ads related to historical literature you have viewed, such as 'Napoleon's British visitors and captives'.
First-Party and Third-Party Cookies
First-party cookies are set by us and are used only by us. Third-party cookies are set by domains other than aqowa.com. For example, if we use an analytics service or an advertising network, that service may set its own cookies. We do not control these third-party cookies, and you should check the privacy policies of those third parties for more information. Our use of third-party cookies is limited to services that help us analyse traffic or deliver advertisements, where such features are active.
Session and Persistent Cookies
Session cookies are temporary and are deleted when you close your browser. Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them manually. The exact duration of persistent cookies varies but is typically not longer than necessary to fulfill their purpose. For example, a preference cookie might persist for a few months to remember your chosen text size, while an analytics cookie may last up to two years.
Local Storage
In addition to cookies, we may use local storage, a technology that allows data to be stored on your device. Local storage is similar to cookies but can store larger amounts of data and is not automatically sent to the server with each request. We use local storage for similar purposes as cookies, such as remembering your preferences. For instance, if you bookmark a title like 'The gold hunters — Key Ideas to Explore', that information may be stored locally so it appears when you return.
Your Choices and Consent
When you first visit our site, we may ask for your consent to use non-essential cookies. You can accept or decline cookies through our cookie consent banner. You may also withdraw your consent at any time by adjusting your browser settings or using the cookie settings tool on our site, if available. Note that essential cookies are exempt from consent requirements because they are necessary for the site to function.
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can set your browser to refuse cookies, delete cookies, or alert you when a cookie is being placed. However, please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our website and your user experience. For detailed guidance, consult your browser's help section.
Practical Effects of Disabling Storage
If you disable cookies or local storage, some features of our site may not work correctly. For example, you may not be able to log in to your account, if applicable, or your preferences may not be saved. Essential cookies cannot be disabled without affecting site performance. You might also notice that catalogue views reset to default each time you visit, and any custom reading notes or progress indicators may be lost.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies and similar technologies.