The Houston Public Library has announced its new program, WeCAN Works, which boasts some significant financial assistance from Microsoft. WeCAN Works is meant to help people become better prepared for jobs by teaching digital literacy and providing technological resources.
Interestingly, this partnership comes just a few years after Microsoft attempted to force the city of Houston into a multi-million dollar licensing agreement. In 2003, Houston adopted SimDesk (for city workers as well as any resident with a library card) in an effort to “bridge the digital divide” at a lower cost than Microsoft products could offer. However, the plug was recently pulled on the controversial SimHouston program, and SimDesk is no longer in business.
CORRECTION: WeCAN Works is a city-wide program with partners including the Houston Public Library (HPL); HPL’s portion of the program is known as Digital Inclusion Initiative.
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