Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

We collect information in two ways: information you provide directly to us, and information collected automatically when you visit our website.

Information You Provide

• Email address — when you subscribe to our newsletter or contact us.
• Name — optionally provided when subscribing or sending us a message.
• Message content — when you contact us through our contact form.
• Comments — if our commenting system is enabled, any comments you post.

Information Collected Automatically

• IP address — collected by our hosting provider and analytics tools.
• Browser type and version
• Pages visited, time on page, and referring URLs
• Device type and operating system
• General geographic location (country/city level — not precise)
• Cookie identifiers — see our Cookie Policy for details.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Deliver our weekly email newsletter (if you subscribed);
• Respond to your messages and inquiries;
• Analyze website traffic and improve our content using Google Analytics;
• Understand which posts, topics, and features our readers enjoy most;
• Comply with legal obligations;
• Detect and prevent fraudulent or harmful activity.

We do not use your information to:

• Sell or rent it to third parties;
• Send unsolicited commercial messages unrelated to this blog;
• Build advertising profiles or engage in behavioral advertising on our own.

3. Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google LLC (“Google”). Google Analytics uses cookies to collect information about how visitors use our site. The information generated by these cookies (including your truncated IP address) is transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States.

We use Google Analytics to understand aggregate usage patterns — such as which pages are most popular and how readers navigate the site. We do not use Google Analytics to identify individual users.

Google may use this data in accordance with its own privacy policy, available at policies.google.com/privacy.

You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on or by adjusting your cookie preferences on this site.

4. Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. We use cookies for the following purposes:

• Analytics — Google Analytics cookies to measure site performance (see above).
• Functionality — to remember your preferences (e.g., cookie consent settings).
• Affiliate tracking — affiliate program cookies that track purchases made after clicking our links (e.g., Amazon Associates).

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality. For a complete list of cookies we use, please see our Cookie Policy.

5. Affiliate Programs & Third-Party Links

Our website contains links to third-party websites, including affiliate links (primarily through the Amazon Associates Program). When you click an affiliate link, the retailer may set their own cookies on your device to track your purchase. These third parties have their own privacy policies, which we do not control.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of external websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any third-party site you visit through our links.

6. Email Newsletter

If you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your email address and, optionally, your name. We use this information solely to send you our newsletter. We use a third-party email service provider to manage our mailing list and send emails. Your email address is shared with this provider only for the purpose of delivering our newsletter.

Unsubscribing: You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the “Unsubscribe” link in any newsletter email. Upon unsubscription, your email address will be removed from our active mailing list within a commercially reasonable time.

7. Information Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Service Providers — We share information with trusted service providers who help us operate the site (e.g., email marketing platforms, web hosting providers, analytics tools). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and may only use it to provide services to us.
• Legal Requirements — We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to a valid legal process (e.g., a court order or subpoena).
• Protection of Rights — We may disclose information to protect the rights, property, or safety of The Reading Rambler, our readers, or others.
• Business Transfer — If this blog is acquired or merged with another entity, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via a prominent notice on our website before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

All Users

• Access — You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction — You may request correction of inaccurate information.
• Deletion — You may request deletion of your personal information.
• Opt-out — You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time.

California Residents (CCPA)

California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information), and the right to non-discrimination for exercising your CCPA rights.

European Residents (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the right to data portability and the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.

Our legal basis for processing your information is: consent (for newsletter subscriptions and analytics cookies) and legitimate interests (for site security and fraud prevention).

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the information provided below.

9. Children’s Privacy

This website is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately and we will delete it promptly.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. For significant changes, we will provide a more prominent notice (such as a notification on our homepage or via email to newsletter subscribers). Your continued use of the site after changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us:

• Website: thereadingrambler.com/contact
• Business: The Reading Rambler
• State of Operation: Georgia, USA