The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries saw significant growth in American library science as a profession, with individuals working to establish formal training and practice across the country. Katharine L. Sharp, born in Elgin in the mid-1860s, was a librarian and writer who worked within that developing field as a citizen of the United States.

Sharp was educated at Northwestern University and pursued work in librarianship, producing writing in the English language in connection with her professional activities. She died on June 1, 1914. In recognition of her work, she received the Library Hall of Fame award, an honor that stands as a concrete mark of distinction within her field.