Information We Receive Automatically
When you visit the Historical Medicine Archive catalogue, our server records routine technical information: your device’s Internet Protocol (IP) address, the type of browser and operating system you use, the date and time of your visit, the pages you view, and, if you arrived from another site, the referring URL. This data is used to diagnose technical problems, protect against malicious activity, and understand general usage patterns so that we can improve the catalogue’s structure and performance.
Information You Choose to Share
If you send a message to the catalogue project via the contact email ([email protected]), we receive the contents of your message and the email address from which it was sent. We keep these communications only as long as needed to respond and to maintain a record of correspondence. We do not sell or share your email address with third parties for their own purposes.
If the catalogue offers optional site preferences (for example, a text-size setting or a display mode), those choices may be stored on your device using cookies or local storage. No personal identifier is linked to these preferences unless you have voluntarily provided one.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies (such as local storage and web beacons) where enabled by your browser. These may include:
- Strictly necessary cookies – required for the catalogue to function, such as remembering your preference for a particular reading view during a session.
- Analytics cookies – where enabled, these help us count visits and see how readers move through the site. The information collected is aggregated and not used to identify you personally.
- Advertising cookies – if advertisements are displayed on the catalogue, third-party ad networks may place cookies on your device to serve ads relevant to your interests and to measure their effectiveness. These cookies are subject to the privacy policies of the respective ad networks.
We may also use web beacons (small graphic images) in conjunction with cookies to understand user engagement with certain pages or emails.
Google Advertising Services
Where Google advertising services are displayed on the catalogue, Google may use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this site or other websites. You may opt out of Google’s use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting Google’s Ads Settings page. Google’s use of advertising cookies is governed by Google’s own privacy policy.
Third-Party Services
We use limited third-party service providers to help operate the catalogue, such as hosting infrastructure and analytics tools. These providers have access to the technical data described above only to perform their functions and are contractually bound not to use it for any other purpose. We do not authorize them to collect or share your personal information for their own independent use.
Purposes of Processing
We process the information described above for the following purposes:
- To operate, maintain, and secure the catalogue.
- To understand how the catalogue is used and to improve its content and usability.
- To respond to messages sent to the catalogue project.
- To comply with legal obligations and to protect our rights and the rights of others.
- Where advertising is displayed, to facilitate the delivery of relevant advertisements and measure their performance.
Data Retention
Server logs are retained for a limited period necessary for security and analysis, after which they are deleted or anonymized. Messages sent to the catalogue project are kept for the duration of the correspondence and for a reasonable period thereafter. Cookie and analytics data are retained according to the retention schedules of the respective tools. We do not retain personal information longer than necessary for the purposes for which it was collected.
Your Choices and Controls
You can manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies, and you can set preferences for third-party cookies. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the catalogue.
For analytics cookies, you may opt out of data collection by using the opt-out mechanisms provided by the analytics service (e.g., the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on).
If advertising cookies are used, you can opt out of personalized advertising through the Digital Advertising Alliance’s opt-out page or your device’s advertising identifier settings.
You have the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of any personal information we hold about you. To exercise these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable law.
Children’s Privacy
The catalogue is not directed to children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, we will take steps to delete it promptly.
External Links
The catalogue may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
International Access
The catalogue is hosted in and operated from Australia. If you access it from a location outside Australia, your information may be transferred to and processed in Australia. By using the catalogue, you consent to this transfer. We take steps to ensure that your information is treated securely and in accordance with this policy.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be indicated by an updated notice on the catalogue. Your continued use of the catalogue after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact the catalogue project at [email protected].