HARTFORD, Conn. -- Hartford Public Library has a gap of $868,986 between the city appropriation and what is required to maintain library services and keep all neighborhood branches open, library officials said Friday.

Barring any change in appropriations from the city prior to the start of the fiscal year July 1, officials said the library will be required to reduce services system-wide to close the gap. This will include reducing youth services and adult-learner services, as well as closing two branches.

The Blue Hills Branch in the northeast area and the Mark Twain Branch in Asylum Hill will be forced to close, officials said, causing 19 full-time employees to be laid off.