Last updated: [DATE]
I Like Being Me Books is a small, family-run Canadian bookstore owned by Sam & Rita Burke in Toronto, Ontario. We sell books and gifts that celebrate Black readers, authors and stories. We respect your privacy and collect only what we need to run the store, answer you and share good books. This policy explains what we collect, why, who we share it with and the choices you have. It follows Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
Quick summary
- We collect what you give us when you order, create an account, save books to a wishlist, contact us or apply as an author.
- We use it to fill your orders, answer your messages and run the site. We never sell your personal information.
- Some books are sold by our partners Bookshop.org and Amazon.ca. When you click through to them, their privacy policies apply, and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
- You can ask to see, correct or delete your information at any time through our Contact page. Or email info@ilikebeingmebooks.com.
Who is responsible
I Like Being Me Books is responsible for the personal information we hold. Our privacy contacts are Sam & Rita Burke. You can reach them through our Contact page. Or email them at info@ilikebeingmebooks.com. You can also write to them at [MAILING ADDRESS].
What we collect and why
When you place an order
For books and gifts sold and shipped by I Like Being Me Books, we collect your name, email, phone number, billing and shipping address, and order details. We use this to take payment, ship your order or arrange pickup, send order emails, handle returns and keep the records the law requires. Payments are handled by our payment processors: Stripe for card payments, and PayPal if you choose to pay with PayPal. Your full card number and PayPal login go straight to them and are never stored on our site.
When you create an account
We keep your name, email, password (encrypted), saved addresses and order history so you can check out faster and track your orders.
When you use the wishlist
We save the books you add. If you are not signed in, the list is kept in a cookie on your own device. When you sign in, it is saved to your account.
When you contact us
We collect your name, email, the topic you choose and your message, so we can reply.
When you apply as an author
We collect your name, email, website or social links, details about your book, and any photo or cover image you upload. We use this to review your application and, if you are accepted and agree, to create your author page.
When you browse
Our web host and site software automatically record technical information such as your IP address, browser type and the pages you visit. We use it to keep the site secure, fix problems and understand which pages are useful. We do not use Google Analytics or any other third-party analytics service. When you place an order, our store software (WooCommerce) notes how you found us, such as the website or link you came from and the type of device you used, and saves this with your order so we know which links bring readers to us.
Children
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Many of our books are for kids, but orders, accounts and forms are for parents, caregivers and other adults.
Cookies
Cookies are small files saved by your browser. We use:
- Essential cookies that keep your cart, let you sign in and protect checkout. The site can’t work without them.
- A wishlist cookie that remembers the books you saved when you’re not signed in. It lasts 1 year.
- Visit-source cookies from WooCommerce (their names start with
sbjs_). They remember how you arrived at the site during your visit, so it can be noted on your order.
We do not use advertising or tracking cookies of our own. Our partner stores may set their own cookies once you click through to them. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, but your cart and sign-in may stop working.
Affiliate links and partner stores
Some books on our site are sold through partner stores rather than shipped by us. Each book page shows where it’s sold:
- Bookshop.org. We are a Bookshop.org affiliate. When you buy through our links, we earn a commission and part of the sale supports independent bookstores.
- Amazon.ca. As an Amazon Associate I Like Being Me Books earn from qualifying purchases.
- Libro.fm. Our audiobook links go to Libro.fm through Bookshop.org’s partner bookstore program.
When you follow these links, you leave our site. The partner collects your order and payment details under its own privacy policy, and it may use cookies to know the sale came from us. We do not receive your name, address or payment details from these partners, only a report of sales and commissions.
Who we share information with
We share personal information only to run the store, and only what each provider needs:
- our payment processors, Stripe (card payments) and PayPal, to take payment
- shipping carriers such as [CARRIER], to deliver your order
- our web host, Hostinger, which stores the site and its data and sends our order and reply emails
We may also disclose information when the law requires it. We never sell or rent your personal information.
Some of these providers store data outside Canada, including in the United States and the European Union. While it is there, it may be accessed by courts or authorities in those countries under their laws.
Your consent and choices
By ordering, creating an account or sending us a form, you agree that we may use your information as described here. You can withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal or contract limits, through our Contact page. Or email info@ilikebeingmebooks.com. If you do, we may not be able to fill an order or answer a request.
How long we keep it
- Orders and invoices: 6 years, as the Canada Revenue Agency requires.
- Accounts: until you ask us to close yours. After that, we keep only what the law requires.
- Contact messages: up to 2 years.
- Author applications we don’t accept: up to 1 year, then deleted with any uploaded files.
- Wishlist cookie: it expires on your device after 1 year.
How we protect it
The site uses an encrypted connection (HTTPS). Only Sam & Rita and the people who help them run the site can sign in to the store, and each person has their own account. Passwords are encrypted. We keep the site software up to date and back it up regularly. No system is perfectly secure. If a breach creates a real risk of significant harm, we will tell you and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, as the law requires.
Your rights
You can ask us to:
- show you the personal information we hold about you
- correct anything that is wrong
- delete your account and the information we don’t need to keep by law
- explain how we’ve used or shared your information
Send your request through our Contact page. Or email info@ilikebeingmebooks.com. We will answer within 30 days, free of charge. If you have an account, you can also update your details on the My account page.
If you’re not satisfied with our answer, you can complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at priv.gc.ca or 1-800-282-1376.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy as the store changes. We’ll change the date at the top, and we’ll email account holders about any big changes.
Contact us
Questions about privacy? Reach Sam & Rita through our Contact page. Or email them at info@ilikebeingmebooks.com.