Cookies
One analytics cookie, no tracking pixels.
The shelf keeps a single cookie to count which entries get read. There are no advertising networks, no third-party trackers, and no social embeds.
The cookie we set
When you open an entry, the library sets one first-party cookie that increments a read counter. The cookie holds an anonymous number; it does not store your name, your email, your IP address in a form we read, or any identifier that follows you to another site.
Why we set it
The counter tells the editors which entries are being read, so the maintenance rota can follow the readers. Without it, we would re-check entries on a fixed cycle regardless of whether anyone was reading them, which is a poorer use of editorial time.
How to read anonymously
The cookie banner offers a "Read anonymously" button. Choosing it sets a preference in your browser that prevents the analytics counter from being written. You can also browse the shelf in a private window, or block first-party cookies in your browser settings; the entries remain fully readable.
What we do not set
We do not set advertising cookies, retargeting cookies, social-network embeds, or any third-party tracker. The library has no account system, so there is no session cookie for a logged-in reader.
Changes to this list
If the library ever needs a second cookie, this page will say so before the cookie is set, and the cookie banner will be updated to match. We do not expect to need one.
Last updated: 14 September 2026.