Information We Receive Automatically
When you visit the Modern History Library, our servers record routine log information: your IP address, browser type and language, operating system, the date and time of your visit, and the pages or files you request. This data helps us maintain the catalogue’s performance, diagnose technical issues, and understand general usage patterns. We do not use this information to identify you personally unless required by law or to investigate a security incident.
Information You Provide Voluntarily
You may choose to send us a message via the contact email ([email protected]). Any personal details you include—such as your name, email address, or the content of your message—are used solely to respond to your inquiry and are not added to a marketing database. We retain correspondence only as long as necessary to address your request and for legitimate administrative purposes.
Site Preferences and Cookies
We use cookies and similar technologies to remember your preferences (such as text size or display settings) and to improve your browsing experience. These are sometimes called functional cookies. Where enabled, we also use analytics cookies to collect aggregated, anonymous data about how visitors navigate the catalogue—which pages are most read, how long people stay, and what search terms they use. This helps us refine the collection and make it more useful.
If advertising is displayed on the catalogue, third-party advertising networks may place cookies or web beacons to serve relevant ads and measure their effectiveness. These technologies are governed by the privacy policies of the respective networks, not by ours. You can control cookie settings through your browser or through industry opt-out tools.
Analytics and Advertising Services
Where enabled, we use a web analytics service (such as Google Analytics) to collect and report aggregated visitor statistics. This service may use cookies and similar technologies to recognise returning visitors and track usage across sessions. The information generated is transmitted to and stored by the service provider on servers that may be located outside your country of residence. We have configured the service to anonymise IP addresses where possible.
If Google advertising services are displayed on the catalogue, Google may use cookies to serve ads based on your visits to this and other websites. You can learn about Google’s advertising practices and opt out of personalised advertising by visiting the Google Ads Settings page. We do not control which ads are shown or how Google uses your data.
Third-Party Cookies and Web Beacons
Some pages may include embedded content (such as videos or social media buttons) from third-party services. These services may set their own cookies or web beacons. We do not control these technologies, and you should consult the privacy policies of those third parties for more information.
How We Use Your Information
We process your information for the following purposes:
- To operate, maintain, and improve the Modern History Library catalogue.
- To respond to your inquiries and provide support.
- To analyse usage trends and compile anonymous statistics.
- To detect, prevent, and address technical issues or security threats.
- Where applicable, to display advertising and measure its performance.
We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We do not share your data with third parties for their own marketing purposes.
Service Providers
We may engage trusted third-party service providers to perform functions on our behalf—such as hosting, analytics, email delivery, and advertising. These providers have access to personal information only to the extent necessary to perform their tasks and are contractually bound to protect your data and use it solely for the services we request.
Data Security
We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by applicable law. Log data is typically retained for a limited period and then deleted or anonymised.
Your Choices and Rights
You have the right to:
- Access, correct, or delete any personal information we hold about you.
- Object to or restrict the processing of your data.
- Request portability of your data in a structured, commonly used format.
- Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
To exercise these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe. Depending on your location, you may also have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection authority.
Browser and Consent Controls
Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can block or delete cookies, but doing so may affect the functionality of the catalogue. Where we use a cookie consent banner, you can accept or decline non-essential cookies. You can also opt out of analytics by using browser add-ons or by adjusting your device settings.
Children’s Privacy
The Modern History Library is not directed at children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that a child has provided us with personal data, 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 their privacy policies before providing any personal information.
International Access
The Modern History Library is operated from New Zealand. If you access the catalogue from outside New Zealand, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in New Zealand or other countries where our service providers operate. By using the catalogue, you consent to such transfer and processing.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the policy and note that it has been updated. Your continued use of the catalogue after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the new policy.