~~Co Op customers in Fordingbridge have financed the introduction of two state of the art touch screens for Fordingbridge Museum through their helping the community fund. They are designed to help people enjoy the contents of the museum if they are too infirm to climb the stairs and also to provide visitors with extra information on the exhibits.
Museum Chairman Chris Ansell said, “We are continually looking for ways to make the museum more accessible so over the closed period in the winter a small team worked on providing easy to use touch screens.  The museum attracts hundreds of visitors to the town every year and also works with local schools and other organisations. Enhancing what it can offer to the public benefits the whole community.”
The screens are based on the ground floor of the museum and the stewards on duty will be able to help people to use them. There is a space for wheelchairs and a screen on a flexible arm that adjusts to a variety of positions for ease of use.  
Museum Manager Jane Ireland said,” We are very grateful to the Co Op and their customers for funding this stimulating initiative.  We can also use the screens for outreach activities in schools and at local events. We are working to build up our collection of oral reminiscences by local people and extracts from some of these are already included on the screens.  Having the screens opens up all sorts of exciting possibilities.”