Donation Sparked a Makerspace in Red Oak and Turned a One-Room Library into an Innovation Hub

By Warren Davis

Originally published in Library Developments

Not long ago, the Red Oak Public Library, which serves a small rural area south of Dallas, functioned out of a single room. When the library moved into its new location in the Government Center with 4,700 square feet in 2023, staff finally had physical room to dream bigger. That vision became reality with the launch of the S.P.A.R.K. Makerspace, a hub for sewing, 3D printing, art, robotics, and engineering now open to the public. The acronym S.P.A.R.K. stands for Sewing/Embroidery, Printing, Art, Robotics/Engineering, and Kits, such as the Lego kits used for building and learning.

The arrival of S.P.A.R.K. reflects a national trend: libraries are evolving into technology access points, workforce training centers, and places where people learn by doing, all while fostering creativity and imagination.

A Gift That Sparked a Movement

The makerspace was made possible by a gift from Google, which operates a data center in the region and sought ways to support local communities. Library Director, Heather Fuller, already knew she wanted to move beyond lending learning kits and into hands-on technology. The donation arrived at exactly the right moment. “Red Oak is a rural area outside of Dallas and we knew patrons needed access to something like this,” Fuller said.

The program was highlighted in the S.P.A.R.K. video series and showed people what the makerspace was all about. “We wanted to make the technology feel usable and visible,” said Alexa Beasley, Director of Communications & Marketing for the City of Red Oak, who led the promotion across Facebook and Instagram.

Inside the S.P.A.R.K. Makerspace

Today, the makerspace occupies about a third of the library building and features four major stations:

• 3D Printing with MakerBot printers
• Cricut Venture Design Station with a dedicated Mac
• Sewing & Embroidery Machines for textile projects and classes
• Robotics & Engineering Kits including LEGO and Engino

Patrons can reserve equipment, attend introductory classes, or drop in during “Makerspace Mondays.” Sewing classes fill within two days. Seniors are eager to learn what a 3D printer can do. Kids as young as eight are safely using machines. A large homeschool community has made the space part of their weekly routine.

“Our sewing programs are constantly booked,” Fuller said.

Extending the Impact Beyond the Walls

The makerspace has not only increased foot traffic inside the building, it is actively shaping programs beyond it. Staff incorporate maker technology into weekly STEM and robotics classes, and twice a month they travel to local elementary schools with hands-on demonstrations. For a volcano science lesson, the team 3D-printed custom volcano models in-house.

“People come back to show us what they made here. That tells us the space is working,” said Fuller. “Access changes people’s sense of what they’re capable of.”

What’s Next for Red Oak

As the community begins its first full year with the makerspace, staff expect participation and outcomes to grow. Future plans include VR-based job readiness training, take-home maker kits (including sewing supplies and 3D printers), and on-demand instruction in senior living centers. Partners such as workforce development agencies and educators are already in conversation.

Programs like S.P.A.R.K. demonstrate what becomes possible when philanthropy and public institutions align. A one-time investment from outside the library created long-term infrastructure that now teaches skills, fuels entrepreneurship, builds confidence, and widens opportunity, especially in a rural area where access to emerging technology is limited.

The lesson is simple: when grants and gifts fund makerspaces, libraries don’t just add gadgets, they create launchpads to possibilities.