What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device by your web browser when you visit a website. They help the site remember your actions and preferences over time. This policy explains how we use cookies and similar storage technologies on bcaut.com.

Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the basic operation of the catalogue. They enable core features such as page navigation and access to secure areas. Without these cookies, the site cannot function properly. They are set in response to actions you take, such as setting privacy preferences or logging in. Essential cookies do not require your consent under most privacy regulations.

Preference Cookies

Preference cookies allow the site to remember choices you make, such as text size, display language, or region. These provide a more personalised experience. They may be set by us or by third-party services we have added to our pages. For example, if you select a specific reading companion view, a preference cookie can recall that choice on future visits.

Analytics Cookies

Where enabled, analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the catalogue by collecting information anonymously. This data helps us improve the site’s performance and usability. We use first-party analytics tools; no data is shared with third parties for their own purposes. The information gathered includes which pages are most frequently visited, how long readers stay on a page, and whether any technical errors occur. This allows us to refine the catalogue experience without compromising your privacy.

Advertising Cookies

If advertising is displayed on certain pages, we may use Google advertising technologies. These cookies are used to deliver adverts relevant to you and to measure the effectiveness of campaigns. They may track your browsing across different websites. You can opt out of personalised advertising through Google’s Ads Settings. Note that advertising is not present on all pages; it is limited to areas where we have chosen to display it to support the catalogue.

First-Party and Third-Party Cookies

First-party cookies are set by us and are used only by our site. Third-party cookies are set by domains other than bcaut.com. For example, if we embed content from another service, that service may set its own cookies. We do not control third-party cookies; you should review the privacy policies of those services. We recommend that you check the cookie policies of any external services whose content you access through our site.

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 duration of persistent cookies varies; you can check your browser’s cookie inspector for exact expiry times. Typically, our persistent cookies last between 30 days and two years, depending on their purpose. For instance, a preference cookie might persist for a year to keep your chosen text size consistent across visits.

Local Storage

In addition to cookies, we may use local storage (such as HTML5 localStorage) to store data on your device for similar purposes. This technology is used where enabled to improve performance and user experience. Local storage can hold larger amounts of data than cookies and is not automatically sent to the server with every request. We use it primarily to cache certain assets or to remember your reading progress within a text.

Your Consent Choices

When you first visit bcaut.com, you will be presented with a cookie consent banner. You can choose to accept all cookies, reject non-essential cookies, or customise your preferences. Essential cookies cannot be disabled through this interface. You may withdraw your consent at any time by adjusting your preferences via the cookie settings link available in the footer of every page. Your choice is stored in a cookie so that the banner does not reappear on each visit.

Browser Controls

Most web browsers allow you to manage cookie settings through their preferences or options menus. You can block or delete cookies, but please note that disabling essential cookies may affect the functionality of the catalogue. Instructions for managing cookies are usually found in your browser’s help section. You can also clear cookies and local storage manually through your browser’s developer tools or settings.

Practical Effects of Disabling Storage

If you disable all cookies and local storage, you may still access public-domain texts, but features such as remembering your reading preferences or maintaining a session will not work. Some interactive elements may not display correctly. For example, if you are reading a work like The story of chamber music and have selected a particular annotation view, that preference will be lost after you navigate away. Similarly, the cookie consent banner may reappear on every page load if the consent cookie is blocked.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies and similar technologies.

Contact

If you have questions about this policy, please contact our Catalogue Editor, The Editorial Team Bcaut, at editor@bcaut.com.