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Privacy

Last updated 2026-08-29.

What this site is

audioshelf.org is a finding aid for public-domain audiobooks. It ranks open recordings and links you to providers such as Internet Archive, LibriVox, and Project Gutenberg. Many recordings can be streamed in the page; you can also open the provider’s site directly. Core browsing does not require an account.

audioshelf.org is offered to visitors in the United States. Access from other countries may be blocked at the network edge. Public-domain badges and corpus policy reflect United States law only—not legal advice for other jurisdictions.

What we store on our servers

Public catalog pages are built from open data (Open Library identity, open source listings, and editorial seed data). We do not store library-card or OverDrive/hoopla session data. We do not sell personal information.

What stays on your device

Some preferences live only in your browser via localStorage, for example theme choice, optional Save lists, visit-related shelf pins, and optional per-recording ratings labeled as on this device. Clearing site data removes them. We do not sync those values to an audioshelf account.

Analytics and cookies

We use Google Tag Manager to manage website tags andGoogle Analytics to understand how visitors use audioshelf. Google Analytics may process information such as pages viewed, browser and device information, approximate location derived from IP address, referral source, and online identifiers (including cookies and similar technologies).

Purposes: measure traffic, diagnose errors, understand which catalog pages are used, and improve the site. We do not use analytics for behavioral advertising on audioshelf.org and we do not sell personal information.

Sharing: Google Tag Manager deploys tags but does not itself retain visitor information. Analytics data is processed byGoogle LLC as a service provider underGoogle’s privacy policy. We do not share analytics data with other third parties for their own marketing.

Retention: Google Analytics retention is configured in our Google Analytics property. Google’s documentation describes default event and user-data retention (commonly between 2 and 14 months depending on settings). We review those settings periodically.

Your choices: limit analytics by adjusting cookie settings in your browser, clearing site data for audioshelf.org, using a browser or extension that blocks third-party scripts, or using Google’sAnalytics opt-out add-on.

Where applicable law requires consent for non-essential cookies or similar technologies, we will obtain that consent before enabling them.

Embedded playback and third-party hosts

When you press Listen, the page may load a player that streams audio from Internet Archive, LibriVox, or their hosting providers. You may remain on audioshelf.org, but those hosts still receive technical information needed to deliver the file—such as IP address, referrer, user agent, and playback-related requests. Their privacy policies govern that processing.

When you follow a link to a provider’s own site, that site’s practices apply.

Other third-party resources

Cover images, fonts, and other assets may load from third-party CDNs used to render the page. Those requests can reveal your IP address and the page you are viewing to the CDN operator.

Logs and hosting

The site is hosted on Cloudflare and related infrastructure. Cloudflare and our hosting providers may process standard technical logs (such as IP address, user agent, requested URL, and security-related signals) as part of operating and protecting the site. SeeCloudflare’s privacy policyfor how that provider handles data.

Children, parents, and educators

audioshelf.org is designed for parents, teachers, librarians, and adult listeners. It is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. We do not offer child profiles or child-directed accounts today.

Parents, guardians, and educators should supervise minors who use the site. Classic literature may include violence, death, prejudice, sexuality, or other themes that are not appropriate for every age. The full catalog is not rated or filtered for children—do not assume every title is safe for young listeners.

If you believe we have received personal information from a child under 13, contactprivacy@audioshelf.org and we will take reasonable steps to delete it. Analytics and hosting logs may still process technical data from all visitors, including children who access the site without our knowledge.

Accounts, payments, and subscriptions

Core browsing does not require an account today. When paid accounts or subscriptions launch, we will collect the information needed to create your account, process payments, prevent fraud, and provide support—such as name, email address, billing country, subscription status, and transaction identifiers from our payment processor.

Payment card numbers are processed by our hosted payment provider (for example Stripe), not stored on audioshelf servers. We retain purchase and subscription records as needed for billing, tax, fraud prevention, and to honor cancellation and refund requests. See Terms and Refundsfor renewal, cancellation, and refund rules.

Paid account holders must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in their state, if higher). We do not knowingly sell personal information.

Contact

Privacy questions:privacy@audioshelf.org. See also Terms, Refunds, andCopyright & takedown.