Who we are
Our website address is: https://thevelvetlibrary.com.
We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data responsibly.
Information We Collect
Comments
When visitors leave comments on the site, we collect the data shown in the comments form, as well as the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help detect spam.
An anonymized hash of your email may be sent to Gravatar to see if you are using it. For details, see Gravatar Privacy Policy. After comment approval, your profile picture may be publicly visible next to your comment.
Media
If you upload images to the website, avoid including embedded location data (EXIF GPS) as visitors may download and extract this data.
Cookies
We use cookies to enhance your experience:
- When you leave a comment, you can opt-in to save your name, email, and website in cookies for one year for convenience.
- Visiting the login page sets a temporary cookie to check browser cookie support, discarded on close.
- Login cookies save your login info and screen preferences (two days or two weeks if “Remember Me” is checked).
- Editing or publishing content sets a cookie with the post ID, expiring after one day.
Embedded Content from Other Websites
Articles may contain embedded content (videos, images, etc.) from other sites, which behave as if you visited those sites. These third parties may collect data, use cookies, track interactions, and monitor your engagement.
How We Use Your Data
- To moderate and display comments
- To provide and improve site functionality
- To prevent spam and abuse
- To manage user accounts if you register
- To comply with legal obligations
Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)
We process your personal data based on:
- Your consent (e.g., when you leave comments or subscribe)
- Legitimate interests (e.g., spam prevention, site security)
- Contractual necessity (e.g., account management)
Data Sharing & Third Parties
- Your data may be shared with service providers who help operate the site (hosting, analytics, email).
- Embedded content providers may collect data per their privacy policies.
- Password reset requests include your IP address for security.
Data Retention
- Comments and metadata are retained indefinitely to recognize repeat commenters.
- Registered users’ personal info is stored in their profile and can be edited or deleted by them or administrators.
Your Rights
- You have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data.
- You can request an export of all personal data we hold about you.
- These rights do not apply if we are legally required to retain certain data.
- You can withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on it.
Data Security
We use standard security measures such as SSL encryption, access controls, and regular updates to protect your data.
International Transfers
If applicable, data transferred outside your country will be protected with appropriate safeguards.
Children’s Privacy
Our site is not intended for children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under this age.
Managing Cookies
You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling some cookies may affect site functionality.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy occasionally. Changes will be posted here with updated effective dates. We encourage reviewing this page periodically.