Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 24, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains what personal information Esoteric Library (esotericlibrary.org, "we", "us") collects, why we collect it, and the choices you have. Read together with our Cookie Policy and Affiliate Disclosure.

1. Information we collect

We try to keep collection minimal:

Server logs — IP address, browser type, referring page, requested URL, timestamp. Kept for up to 30 days for security and abuse-prevention.
Account data (optional) — only if you create an account: email and a hashed password. Not required to read books.
Cookies — see our Cookie Policy for the full list and categories.
Communications — messages you send to contact@esotericlibrary.org (kept while needed to respond).

2. How we use information

Operate and secure the website (rate-limit abuse, prevent fraud).
Show ads and measure their performance (see Section 4).
Understand aggregate usage to improve content and navigation.
Respond to your messages and corrections requests.

3. Analytics

We use Google Analytics (cookies _ga, _gid) to understand traffic patterns. Analytics data is aggregated and pseudonymised; we do not use it to identify individual readers. You can opt out via the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, your browser's Do Not Track signal, or by rejecting analytics cookies in our consent banner.

4. Advertising — Google AdSense and partners

Esoteric Library uses Google AdSense, a third-party advertising service provided by Google LLC, to display ads on this site.

Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this website and other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to our users based on their visit to our sites and/or other sites on the Internet.

This includes the DoubleClick DART cookie and cookies such as __gads and __gpi, used for ad delivery and measurement.

You can opt out of personalised advertising at any time:

Visit Google Ads Settings to control how Google personalises ads to you.
Opt out of third-party vendors' use of cookies at www.aboutads.info/choices (US) or youronlinechoices.eu (EU).
Reject advertising cookies in the cookie consent banner on this site. You will still see ads, but they will not be personalised to your interests.

5. Your rights (GDPR / UK GDPR / CCPA)

If you are in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or California, you have the right to:

Request a copy of personal data we hold about you.
Ask us to correct or delete that data.
Object to or restrict certain processing.
Withdraw consent for analytics or advertising cookies at any time.
(California residents) Know what categories of personal information we collect and confirm that we do not sell personal information.
Lodge a complaint with your local data-protection authority.

To exercise any of these rights, email contact@esotericlibrary.org. We respond within 30 days.

6. Data retention

Server logs: up to 30 days, then deleted automatically.
Account data: kept while your account is active; deleted within 30 days of account deletion request.
Analytics data: Google Analytics retention is set to 14 months.
Correspondence: kept while needed to handle your enquiry, then archived for up to 12 months.

7. Children's privacy

Esoteric Library is not directed at children under 13 (or under 16 in the EEA). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided information, please contact us and we will delete it.

8. Security

The site is served over HTTPS. Passwords are stored as salted hashes. We use reputable hosting providers and follow standard practices, but no internet service is 100% secure.

9. Outbound links

Book purchase links to Amazon, Bookshop.org, AbeBooks, ThriftBooks, Better World Books and similar retailers leave our site. Their privacy practices are governed by each retailer's own policy. Some are affiliate links — see our Affiliate Disclosure.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the site evolves. Substantive changes are noted at the top of this page and dated. Continued use of the site after a change means acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

Questions about privacy or data requests: contact@esotericlibrary.org.