RUMFORD – A federal grant given to the local healthy communities coalition will help people learn which Web sites are valuable resources for health-related issues, and which are not.

River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition Director Patricia Duguay said the organization received $25,000 from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine New England Program.

With the money, librarians from SADs 21 and 43, Region 9, and several area town libraries will be trained to identify and access legitimate health information over what can be an overwhelming number of Web sites.

“We want people to be able to differentiate between legitimate Web sites and those with little or no value,” Duguay said.

The information gained won’t replace visits to health care providers, but it will provide some self-education for people, she added.

Librarians will train students and others on which sites could be most helpful. Duguay said she hopes students will bring that information home to their grandparents and others who may not be computer-savvy.

Once the project is completed, a workbook will be devised to assist those who want help.

The program is a pilot program of healthy community coalitions throughout the state.

“The goal is to increase community access to needed health information that is accurate and reliable and easy to understand,” Duguay wrote in a news release.

The coalition is circulating an 11-question survey to help identify health access needs. The survey, which can be accessed by e-mailing Duguay at: [email protected], includes questions about health topics, Internet use and demographic data.

Surveys should be returned by July 14.