The Karuna Initiative* began in 2008 with a generous grant from the National Library of Medicine written by Lori Bell of the Alliance Library System. The grant called for an island to be built in the virtual world of Second Life (SL) with three specific goals in mind:

1. Create a library of up-to-date information about HIV/AIDS for those dealing with the virus and their friends, families and colleagues

2. Offer monthly workshops and/or lectures about topics related to HIV/A

3. Collect and share the stories of those dealing with HIV/AIDS