A Personal Touch

It’s exactly 7:45 p.m. at the nation’s oldest college library, and Camille I. Johnson ’06-’07 is sitting in an upholstered chair, reading a book. Suddenly, a loud beep shatters the silence of Widener. After a few seconds of static, an automated female voice proclaims that the hour of closing is nigh. Johnson does not look up—she has heard the recorded message so many times it has ceased to have any meaning.

Johnson’s uncomprehending reply does not surprise Frank E. Oglesby, Deputy Director for Customer Service for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).

“People are dismissive of a computer-generated voice,” he says. “A human voice is much more reassuring.”

Oglesby should know—it is his own silky baritone, after all, that calls out the stops on the MBTA Red Line, Green Line, and Silver Line, and on many of the city’s buses. He has been the voice of the T since the early nineties, so every time you get off at Copley for an afternoon of shopping it’s his voice announcing your destination.

“I like the Green Line [announcement] the best,” says Oglesby of his own work. “When I listen to it, it brings a smile to my face...The Silver Line is like I’m sounding like Darth Vader.”

Sadly, students should not expect to hear the voice of the Dark Lord resounding through the stacks of Widener anytime soon. According to Beth Brainard, Director of Operations for Harvard College Libraries, updating Widener’s audio system is currently “not a top priority.”

At least Johnson can get back to reading her book.