Cookie policy
Last updated 4 August 2026
The M. David Merrill Library uses cookies and equivalent browser storage only to make the site work. We do not run advertising cookies, and we do not use cross-site tracking or behavioural profiling.
You can browse the catalogue, search it and read records without signing in and without any non-essential storage being set.
What we set
| Storage | Category | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authentication session | Strictly necessary | Keeps you signed in across pages and refreshes your session token. Set only after you sign in. | Until you sign out or the session expires |
| Sign-in state during OAuth | Strictly necessary | Short-lived values used while completing a Google or Apple sign-in redirect securely. | Minutes |
| Interface preferences | Functional | Small values stored in your browser to remember interface state, such as a dismissed panel. | Until you clear browser storage |
Third parties
Signing in with Google or Apple hands you to that provider for the sign-in step, where their own cookies and policies apply. Embedded video is served from youtube-nocookie.com, which avoids setting personalisation cookies unless you press play; once you do, YouTube's own terms and cookies apply.
Your control
Every browser lets you view, block and delete cookies and site data. Blocking the strictly necessary items will prevent sign-in, contributions, lists and the coach from working, but public browsing will continue to function.
For the wider picture of what data we hold, see the privacy policy.
Contact
Questions, requests or takedown notices: contact@themerrilllibrary.org.