For each visitor to the website/s, the National Genealogical Society’s or its service providers’ servers automatically collect information about which pages are visited and the IP address and domain name (e.g., ngsgenealogy.org) of visitors. This information is used for internal review, to tailor information to individual visitors and for website traffic audits. We also provide this information (as well as information from third-party market researchers) about our users on an aggregated, anonymous basis to our advertisers.
The National Genealogical Society may place a “cookie” on the browser of your computer. The cookie itself does not contain any personally identifying information. A cookie may be used to tell when your computer has contacted the website. The National Genealogical Society uses the information for editorial purposes and for other purposes such as delivery of features and advertisements, so the National Genealogical Society can customize delivery of information to you without compromising privacy. For example, cookies may be used to ensure that you will not see the same banner advertisement too often in a single session.
The National Genealogical Society may, in the course of providing services through its websites, ask you to disclose voluntarily certain information about yourself. This could include information that identifies you or your household. Any information in the National Genealogical Society’s possession solely as a result of your use of the website and that is associated with you or your household is considered “Personal Information.” It consists of both information supplied by you (e.g. name, address, telephone number and email address) and information collected about how you use the website (e.g. the fact that you have bought merchandise through the website). “Personal Information” does not include statistical data about large numbers of users, none of whom are identifiable, nor does it include information that you have posted for public view on the website or otherwise publicly disclosed.
The National Genealogical Society uses Personal Information only for purposes necessary to provide the website and other products and services to you. These purposes are
- to process requests or orders, or to provide you with offers from NGS or our approved business partners;
- to solicit donations to NGS;
- to perform such normal business operations as billing, collecting, and accounting;
- to provide directory information to you and other members;
- to personalize and publicize the website based on your interests, including making you aware of editorial features, advertisements, and commercial items; and
- to investigate complaints and to protect the website and the National Genealogical Society, its readers, and employees as provided by law or in case of emergency, as determined by legal counsel for the National Genealogical Society.
Except as necessary to process your requests or orders placed with advertisers or merchants featured on the website, or to provide you with offers from our approved business partners, the National Genealogical Society does not rent, sell, barter, or give away any lists containing Personal Information for use by any outside company. The National Genealogical Society also respects the privacy of data on your personal computer and does not access, read, upload, or store data contained in or derived from your private files without your authorization.