NSDL has made modifications to the NSDL Privacy Policy draft for consideration by the Policy Committee, based on input received from the community. These changes address the use of HTTP cookies by NSDL, supporting both customization of services, and web metrics collection. The use of persistent cookies is a significant support (and nearly ubiquitous general practice) for the provision and preservation of individualized user services, and is also a common practice for the use of certain web metrics packages, such as Google Analytics. In order to preserve the ability to provide user preferences, customization of services, and web metrics collection in current and future NSDL applications and services (e.g. Expert Voices blogging environment), the sections on HTTP Cookies and Web Metrics, Search Parameters in the revised Privacy Policy draft have been modified to clarify the usage of cookies, and to inform the user of options for eliminating cookie usage in their own browsers (opt-out capability).

Revised NSDL Privacy Policy draft