Kim Patton doesn’t call her after-school gatherings parties. But that’s what they look like.

Complete with snacks, oversized lounge chairs and satellite radio, Patton’s get-togethers are aimed at improving the school performance of young Lawrence residents.

“When report cards just come out, we’ll have 14 people squeezed in this little spot,” Patton said.

As the young adult services director at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt., Patton is the brains behind Homework Nites.

She started the program two years ago on Wednesday afternoons because public school students had early dismissal that day. The program offers students, ages 11 to 18, tutoring services in math, social sciences, spelling, reading and college preparatory tests.

After complaints from students about scheduling conflicts, the program expanded to Thursdays.

Patton said she chose to add Thursdays because she thought most students had tests on Fridays and it would be most beneficial for them to have a homework session the day before.

Although the program added a second day, Patton said she would like to see attendance increase.

“The beginning of the year is kind of slow,” Patton said. “But then parents start calling me and asking if we are having Homework Nites.”

Kansas University sophomore Cindy Davis, of Topeka, works on her own homework while being available to help students during the Lawrence Public Library-sponsored Homework Nites program. The homework program is offered Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Patton originally recruited teachers to tutor but found that college students helped students more in this setting.

“We tend to stay away from teachers,” Patton said. “We tried that a couple of years ago, but teachers have a problem leaving the classroom behind.”

Patton said the key qualities for being an effective tutor were patience and an interest in children.

“Homework Nites offers another outlet from Mom or Dad helping,” Patton said. “Sometimes there can be tension between the kids and parents.”

Homework Nites run from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and from 4 p.m to 7 p.m. Thursdays in The Zone, which is the juvenile section in the northeast corner of the library.