AIDS Information and Outreach in the Virtual World of Second Life

The Alliance Library System (ALS) is pleased to announce that the National Library of Medicine has awarded ALS a $60,000 grant for a project entitled "AIDS Information and Outreach in the Virtual World of Second Life." The project includes the creation of a new island with a community AIDS/HIV library/resource center. The resource center will provide information support and outreach to the Second Life community and beyond about AIDS/HIV and its prevention. The new island will also be home to a garden space where narratives about the AIDS/HIV experience can be shared through art, audio, video, poetry, essays, and more. The project runs from October 1, 2008 – March 31, 2010.

This is the fourth grant awarded to ALS for the provision of consumer health information in Second Life, and will also fund a continuation of current efforts. The project coordinator will be Carol Perryman, known inworld as Carolina Keats.

For more information on the Alliance Library System, please see www.alliancelibrarysystem.com or contact Lori Bell at lbell927@gmail.com, or in Second Life as Lorelei Junot.

For more information about this project, please contact Carol Perryman at cp1757@gmail.com or in Second Life as Carolina Keats.

Share the Health: Training People with Disabilities and Chronic Medical Conditions on how to Locate Quality Health Information

The Alliance Library System (ALS) is pleased to announce that the Greater Midwest Region/National Library of Medicine has awarded ALS a $35,000 grant to provide consumer health information to people with disabilities and chronic illness, in Second Life.

Partnering with ALS in the project will be Virtual Ability, Inc. (VAI). VAI presence in Second Life has included their ongoing work as The Heron Sanctuary, which provides a community of support for people with disabilities.

The grant, called Share the Health: Training People with Disabilities and Chronic Medical Conditions on how to Locate Quality Health Information, will fund a new island with an orientation and training center for people with disabilities and chronic illness. It is the third grant awarded to ALS for the provision of consumer health information in Second Life, and will also fund a continuation of current efforts.

For more information on this project, please contact Carol Perryman at cp1757@gmail.com, or in Second Life as Carolina Keats.
For more information on the Alliance Library System, please see www.alliancelibrarysystem.com or contact Lori Bell at lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com

309-694-9200 ext. 2128, or in Second Life as Lorelei Junot.

For more information on the Greater Midwest Region/National Library of Medicine, please see http://nnlm.gov/gmr/.

For more information on Virtual Ability, Inc., please see www.VirtualAbility.org or contact Alice Krueger at akrueger@virtualability.org or in Second Life as Gentle Heron.