A clear, honest explanation of the cookies Utopedia uses — and the ones we refuse to use.
Last updated: March 2026 · Effective date: March 2026

Our Position on Cookies

Utopedia does not use marketing cookies. We do not track your browsing behaviour for advertising. We do not build profiles of your reading habits to sell to third parties. We do not serve targeted advertisements. We are a library, and we treat our readers the way libraries treat their patrons — with complete respect for their privacy.

The cookies we use exist for one purpose only: to make the platform function correctly and to ensure you have a good experience when you use it. Nothing more.

If you have ever felt unsettled accepting cookies on a website because you were not sure what you were agreeing to — on Utopedia, you can accept with confidence. Our cookies do not follow you. They simply make the library work.

What Is a Cookie?

A cookie is a small text file placed on your device by a website when you visit it. Cookies are used for a variety of purposes — some functional and necessary, some analytical, some commercial and advertising-related. This policy explains exactly which type Utopedia uses, and why.

The Cookies Utopedia Uses

1. Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the platform to function. They cannot be disabled without breaking the Service. They include:

  • Session cookies — maintain your logged-in status as you navigate between pages
  • Security cookies — protect your account from cross-site request forgery and related attacks
  • Preference cookies — remember settings such as your display mode (light/dark) and reading preferences

These cookies do not track you, do not collect personal data for analysis or advertising, and are deleted when you close your browser (session cookies) or after a defined period (preference cookies).

2. Functional Cookies
Functional cookies allow the platform to provide enhanced features. On Utopedia, these include:

  • Reading history cookies — remembering which entries you have recently visited so we can surface relevant suggestions
  • Language and accessibility cookies — remembering your preferred display settings

These cookies collect no personally identifiable information beyond what is necessary to provide the feature described. They do not leave the Utopedia platform.

3. Analytical Cookies (Limited and Anonymised)
We use a limited set of anonymised analytical cookies to understand how the platform is being used in aggregate — which pages are most visited, which entries are read most, and where technical errors occur. This information helps us improve Utopedia.

All analytical data collected through these cookies is anonymised before it reaches us. We cannot identify individual users from this data. We do not use third-party advertising analytics platforms.

The Cookies Utopedia Does Not Use

  • Marketing or advertising cookies — we do not serve targeted advertisements
  • Third-party tracking cookies — we do not allow advertising networks to place cookies through our platform
  • Social media tracking pixels — we do not embed tracking from social media platforms
  • Cross-site tracking cookies — our cookies do not follow you to other websites
  • Profiling cookies — we do not build behavioural profiles of our readers

Managing Your Cookie Preferences

When you first visit Utopedia, you will be presented with a cookie consent notice. You may accept all cookies, or manage your preferences to accept only strictly necessary cookies. You can update your preferences at any time by clicking the cookie settings link in the footer of any Utopedia page.

You may also manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to view, delete, and block cookies. Note that disabling strictly necessary cookies will affect the platform’s core functionality, including your ability to remain logged in.

Third-Party Services

Utopedia uses ORCID for researcher identity verification. When you connect your ORCID iD, you are redirected to ORCID’s platform, which operates under its own privacy and cookie policy available at orcid.org/privacy-policy. Utopedia does not control ORCID’s cookie practices.

We do not embed third-party advertising networks, social media widgets, or analytics platforms that place cookies on your device without your knowledge.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. We will notify registered users of material changes. The effective date at the top of this page reflects the date of the most recent update.

Contact

For questions about our use of cookies: privacy@utopiacircle.org