Dr. Kate McDowell is an assistant professor at the University of Illinois, in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS). Her research interests include the history of children as readers, women's contributions to librarianship, children's libraries and print culture, and storytelling. She has published articles in Library Quarterly, Book History, Children and Libraries, and Libraries and the Cultural Record as well as chapters in several books. Her 2009 article for Library Quarterly, titled "Surveying the Field: The Research Method of Women in Librarianship, 1882-1898" won the 2010 Donald G. Davis award of the Library History Round Table of the American Library Association. This biennial award recognizes the best article written in English in the field of United States and Canadian library history including the history of libraries, librarianship, and book culture.

Kate teaches in the area of library services to youth, including youth services librarianship, fantasy literature and media for youth, children's literature and resources, young adult literature and resources, and storytelling. Kate was a children's librarian from 1999-2003 at The Urbana Free Library and has performed as a storyteller locally and regionally since 1999. For a full list of her accomplishments, see her curriculum vitae.