Though he does concede with a little tip of his head, he must add an amendment:

"Good enough."

Limited resources, limited collection, limited staff—but they persevere nonetheless, and an advisory collaboration is indeed well within their collective capabilities. And even if they didn't end up contributing directly, monitoring the professor's progress would satisfy that completionist itch in the back of his head...

"It's worth keeping an eye on. If nothing else, there's a distinct satisfaction in knowing someone is following your work, which I'm sure the professor will enjoy."

(It's not about him. Don't look at him.)