Reward

A young man I recognized came out of a study room in the Reference area on the lower level, and asked for his library card back. I knew his face; he's probably been coming to the Library for at least a couple of years that I've been here.

He told me that I'd helped him with research for his Science Fair project.

"How'd you do?" I wondered.

"Reached the national semi-finals." He beamed, then thanked me.

That is the reward of being a librarian.