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CITY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 



Owing to war weddings, openings in other libraries, in business, and 

 in the Government service at Washington, the Ubrary has lost seventeen 

 assistants. The depletion of the staff and numerous changes, the largely 

 increased patronage, the fuel shortage, the closing of schools, the war 

 work, and various other matters, have combined to make the past year 

 peculiarly arduous. I want to commend highly the spirit which has 

 animated the staff, the enthusiasm with which they have attacked 

 every problem, and above all their eagerness to do anything and every- 

 thing which would increase the library's helpfulness in the great task 

 of winning the war. 



Respectfully submitted, 



HILLER C. WELLMAN, Librarian. 



