Dear Tech Guru: Late Night Database User

Dear Tech Guru,

Why is it that when I am at the library, I can access the databases, but when I am home, I can’t access some of them?

Late Night Database User

Hi Database User,

Some of the databases we provide come from the NJ State Library. These databases provide access based on geolocation, specifically locations within the state of NJ. If you’re having trouble with access, it’s because your computer or your smart device isn’t communicating to the database that you are in NJ.

As personal security online has become a growing concern, computer users have asked for ways to prevent apps and websites from gathering information. One security concern is user location. You might see the popup when you go to a website or open an app that asks for your location. Let’s use an example of a website for a large store. You visit a website and look up an item and you want to see if they have it in your local store. If you have your location services turned off or have clicked “do not allow” when the popup came up, the website won’t be able to access your computer’s location, and therefore doesn’t know where you are located. Many of these stores will default to a flagship location, to find your local store you’ll have to input a city or zip code. If you have your location services turned on, the store locator will use your computer’s current location to try to find the nearest store.

This is the same with some of our databases provided by the NJ State Library. When your location cannot be determined, the service will not let you access the database.

One thing you can do is to make sure you turn on your location services both through your computer or device and within the browser.

On any computer or mobile device, you can find Location Services under the Privacy & Security settings. There you can turn Location Services on or off for your whole system, or individually for specific apps on your computer.

On a desktop you can also check Location Services for each browser you may use.

• Chrome: Under Settings, go to Privacy and Security and then click on Site Settings. Under the heading of Permissions, you will see Location. Clicking on Location shows you options for setting the Default Behavior for when a website requests your location. You can give sites approval to ask for your location or deny all sites to ask for your location. You will also see a list of sites you have denied access and sites that have access.

  

  
   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   
  

  
  
   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

• Firefox: Under Settings go to Privacy & Security and then scroll down to Permissions. Next to Location, click on Settings to see a list of websites and if you have given or denied them access.

  
  
   

   

   

   

   
  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Edge: Under Settings, go to Cookies and Site Permissions. Scroll down to All Permissions and click on Location. Here you can turn on the option for a site to ask for permission to access your location; if you turn it off the browser will automatically block your location. You can also see the list of websites you have blocked and given access to.

  
  
  

   

   

   

   

  
  
  

   

   

   

   

   

   
  

This will help with accessing the majority of MCLS’ databases. There are seven that can only be used in the library. All of these will have “In-Library Use Only” in their descriptions. ALLDATA LLC is only available at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch. 

-Amelia, Information Technology