Cookie Policy

Last updated: 01/10/2025

This Cookie Policy explains how our LibGuides website uses cookies and similar technologies. Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help the site function properly, remember your preferences, and collect anonymous usage statistics.

We use two types of cookies:

• Essential cookies – required for the site to operate (for example, maintaining login sessions for site administrators). These are always set.
• Analytics cookies – used to understand how visitors use the site so we can improve it. These include cookies set by Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity.

At present, our LibGuides platform does not allow cookies to be switched off through the site’s banner. If you wish to restrict or block cookies, you can do so through your browser settings or by using third-party tools such as the Google Analytics opt-out add-on.

_clck (Microsoft Clarity)

Set by Microsoft Clarity (clarity.microsoft.com). Used for behavioural analytics and session recording, including heatmaps and click/scroll tracking. Helps us understand how people use the site and improve usability.
Category: Analytics / tracking.
Duration: Session (expires when your browser closes).
More information: Microsoft Clarity Privacy Statement.

_ga (Google Analytics)

Set by Google Analytics. Used to distinguish unique users and collect anonymous usage statistics to improve the website.
Category: Analytics / performance.
Domain: shu.ac.uk.
Duration: Up to 2 years.
More information: Google Privacy Policy.

_ga_ZRBBN63MBT (Google Analytics)

Stores a unique client identifier to distinguish users and measure website usage such as pageviews and events.
Category: Analytics.
Domain: shu.ac.uk.
Duration: 2 years.
More information: Google technologies overview.

_gat_gtag_UA_10593012_1 (Google Analytics)

Used to limit the rate of requests sent to Google Analytics servers, helping ensure accurate statistics without overloading the system.
Category: Analytics.
Duration: About 1 minute.
More information: Google Privacy Policy.

_gid (Google Analytics)

Stores a unique client identifier and is used to distinguish users. Helps us collect anonymous information about how visitors use the site.
Category: Analytics.
Duration: 24 hours.
More information: Google technologies overview.

sts (LibGuides first-party session cookie)

Stores a short session identifier and start time. Used to understand how visitors use the site and improve performance. Does not contain personal information.
Category: Analytics.
Duration: Session (expires when you close your browser).

__utmc (Google Analytics)

Helps calculate how long a visitor stays on the site by recording session start and end times.
Category: Analytics.
Duration: Session.

__utmb (Google Analytics)

Works with __utmc to measure visit duration and determine whether a new session has started.
Category: Analytics.
Duration: About 30 minutes of inactivity.

__utmt (Google Analytics)

Used to throttle request rate and calculate site speed.
Category: Analytics.
Duration: About 10 minutes.

__utmz (Google Analytics)

Tracks how a visitor found the website, recording the source, medium, and campaign.
Category: Analytics.
Duration: About 6 months.

You cannot disable cookies directly through our LibGuides banner. However, you can control or delete cookies through your browser’s privacy settings. Blocking all cookies may affect how the site functions.

To opt out of Google Analytics specifically, you can use the Google Analytics opt-out add-on.