Bette walked behind the counter to the file cabinets and let her fingers trail across the drawers until she located the one she was looking for.  She opened the drawer and then grabbed a pair of cotton gloves on the top of the cabinet before she touched any of the contents. 

“That was fast,” the patron said when Bette walked back to the counter with the documents. 

“I need you to leave your ID with me and you’ll need to put on gloves, too.”  She handed the woman a pair of gloves and took the ID with the other hand, glancing at it.  “Okay, Gail Sturges.  You can sit anywhere in this room.  Should you need anything else or when you’re ready to leave there is a button right here.”  Bette touched the base of a small button that looked like a doorbell, “Just ring and I or someone else on staff will come up to assist you.”

“It’s like a tomb in here.  Is it always this quiet?”

“Uh-hmm.  It is.”

“Would there be a problem with me working here all day, every day?”

“None.  We like to see the library in use,” Bette answered as if she were a full-time staff member who was devoted to the library.  She believed in being professional, mature, and helpful even if she only worked there twenty hours a week for a little extra money to supplement what her father sent.  Plus, she was counting on a good recommendation from her supervisors when she left. 

“Great, I’ll bring my things tomorrow.  I won’t be long today.  Let me just glance at what’s here and make some decisions.  Is it okay if you’re up here for an hour or so today?  I might need you to collect more documents for me.”

“Sure, not a problem.”  Bette had access to all of the university libraries from this room, so she could do her own research instead of spending time going back and forth in the stacks returning manuscripts downstairs.  This hour would give her an opportunity to work on two assignments she hadn’t started.  She called the circulation desk and gave her co-worker a heads-up, then sat on a stool and began typing into the large computerized catalog.