Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 2, 2026

1. Introduction

The Local Readery (“we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal information when you visit thelocalreadery.com, subscribe to our newsletter, contact us, or purchase books through our online bookstore.

This policy should be read together with our Terms of Use.

2. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with the Site, we may collect:

  • Identity & contact data — name, email address, phone number, or mailing address when you contact us, submit a book, or complete checkout.
  • Order & transaction data — items purchased, order totals, fulfillment details, and payment status. Payment card numbers are processed by Square; we do not store full card numbers on our servers.
  • Technical data — IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, referring URLs, and general location derived from IP.
  • Usage & analytics data — pages viewed, clicks, session duration, conversion events, and performance metrics collected through our analytics tools.
  • Communications — messages you send via contact forms or email.

3. How We Collect Information

  • Directly from you when you fill out forms, check out, or email us;
  • Automatically through cookies, pixels, and similar technologies;
  • From service providers that help us operate the Site and process orders.

4. Payment Processing (Square)

When you purchase from our bookstore, payment information is collected and processed by Square, Inc. using Square Web Payments. Square may collect billing details, device information, and fraud-prevention signals.

We receive limited transaction data from Square — such as payment confirmation, order ID, amount, and status — to fulfill your order and maintain records. Square’s handling of payment data is governed by Square’s Privacy Notice.

5. Analytics & Performance Tools

We use or plan to use the following services to secure, measure, and improve the Site. Each may set cookies or use similar technologies:

Cloudflare

Cloudflare provides content delivery, DDoS protection, and security services for the Site. Cloudflare may process IP addresses, request metadata, and security logs. Learn more in Cloudflare’s Privacy Policy.

Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

GA4 helps us understand traffic sources, page performance, and bookstore conversion funnels. Google may process pseudonymous identifiers, device information, and usage events. See Google’s Privacy Policy and Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

PostHog

PostHog provides product analytics and may include session replay or feature-flag capabilities in the future. PostHog may process pseudonymous IDs, page views, clicks, and device metadata. See PostHog’s Privacy Policy.

6. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to:

  • Process and fulfill bookstore orders;
  • Respond to inquiries and author submissions;
  • Send newsletters or updates you request (e.g., Substack);
  • Secure the Site and prevent fraud or abuse;
  • Measure performance and improve content, checkout, and discovery;
  • Comply with legal, tax, and accounting obligations.

7. Legal Bases (where applicable)

Where required, we rely on: (a) performance of a contract (fulfilling orders); (b) legitimate interests (security, analytics, improving the bookstore); (c) consent (optional marketing); and (d) legal obligations.

8. Cookies & Similar Technologies

We and our providers use cookies, local storage, and pixels to keep the Site secure, remember preferences, and measure usage. You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect checkout or analytics accuracy.

9. Sharing & Disclosure

We may share information with:

  • Square — payment processing and order records;
  • Cloudflare — hosting, security, and CDN services;
  • Google / PostHog — analytics as described above;
  • Email & newsletter providers — e.g., Substack when you subscribe;
  • Professional advisors or authorities — when required by law.

We do not sell your personal information.

10. Data Retention

We retain information only as long as needed for the purposes above — including order records, tax requirements, and dispute resolution — then delete or anonymize it where reasonable.

11. Security

We use HTTPS, access controls, and reputable payment and infrastructure providers. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure; please use strong, unique passwords elsewhere and contact us if you suspect unauthorized activity.

12. Children’s Privacy

The Site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. Contact us if you believe a child has provided information.

13. Your Choices & Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or restrict certain processing of your personal information. You may opt out of non-essential analytics where available and unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time.

14. Third-Party Links

The Site may link to third-party sites (Instagram, Substack, indie bookstores, etc.). We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Review their policies before sharing information.

15. Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy as our bookstore, analytics stack, or legal requirements change. The “Last updated” date above reflects the latest revision.

16. Contact

Privacy questions or requests:
Email: thelocalreadery@gmail.com