Boards.ie access in Dublin Public Library

Mrs OBumble

So I'm sitting in the main public library, using my laptop to do some stuff, connected via their wi-fi.

Tried to check boards.ie, and found it was blocked by their security policy.

Luckily I had my mobile broadband dongle, so go in that way.

But is it always like this? Have people protested? They had no problems letting me in to Facebook and other timewasters. And I'm sure I've looked at boards in here before.

January

Not really a Dublin City forum issue so moved to Feedback

padd b1975

Never had a problem in my local library, West Dublin area.

Orion

what library? Did the block message say what system they use and what the block criteria was? And did you ask the staff about it?

Mrs OBumble

Orion wrote: »

what library? Did the block message say what system they use and what the block criteria was? And did you ask the staff about it?

The central branch, in the Ilac centre.

I didn't note down the message, didn't really think about the significance of it immediately. There was something about trying to access a site that violates our policies and click here to request a review.

And no I did not leave my stuff unattended in order to go an find a staff member - kinda guessing that it would be a challenge to find the one person who was clued up about their wireless, esp at 7pm in the evening.

I figure it's more an issue for Dublin people who are genuine library members to complain about, rather than a culchie (sic) who's some up for the day to consult some reference books.

returnNull

tbh i'd say the staff wouldnt be able to help ,the IT would be managed offsite

Dravokivich

Boards is flagged as a mature content website. I've had to get the filter taken off from my phone provider a lot.

hfallada

Boards is blocked in DCC libraries. But facebook and twitter isn't. But I have noticed twitter has a lot of nsfw pics

Dravokivich

hfallada wrote: »

Boards is blocked in DCC libraries. But facebook and twitter isn't. But I have noticed twitter has a lot of nsfw pics

My post above is the reason why. Neither facebook nor twitter were blocked for me. But boards was and the reason, was for it being classified as mature content.

Cabaal

Seems abit crazy that boards.ie is blocked and facebook and twitter aren't, especially when you consider boards is a moderated site

funt cucker

Cabaal wrote: »

Seems abit crazy that boards.ie is blocked and facebook and twitter aren't, especially when you consider boards is a moderated site

Happens in my place of work too, youtube, facebook, twitter and boards are blocked because of "traffic" that's what we are told anyway.

MugMugs

funt cucker wrote: »

Happens in my place of work too, youtube, facebook, twitter and boards are blocked because of "traffic" that's what we are told anyway.

I imagine your user name sums up exactly why the site is blocked.

biko

Boards is part of for instance OpenDNS's "Social/Forums" policy so if the library use that it will block every social site and many know internet forums.
They probably don't want people using up bandwidth with facebook/youtube/chat.

Cody Pomeray

I remember having this problem in a Dublin library I popped into one time, and the problem wasn't that www.boards.ie was blocked, it was that boards.ie (without the www) was blocked, or something like that.

This makes no sense to me, not knowing anything about technology, but apparently that was the problem (if I am remembering correctly).

biko

Could it have been the other way around?
boards.ie and www.boards.ie are actually two different things.

Most often blockers make the mistake of blocking www.something.com but forget to also block just something.com
It really depends on how the blocking was set up but I doubt librarians would have the know-how, they probably would use some standard filter in the router.


Read more here http://www.webhostingtalk.com/wiki/URLs_with_or_without_www

Cody Pomeray

I was pretty sure it was just boards.ie that wasn't working (because that's the way I tend to enter it) but yes it could have been the other way around; maybe someone who uses the library regularly can check that out.