Involved with books from an early age he collected widely and worked throughout his life to ensure that knowledge was available to all.

His personal donation of some 40,000 volumes to the University of Western Ontario, his work as a lecturer at the first provincial library school and his commitment to the first Ontario library institute make him a notable Canadian librarian from the beginning of the confederation era right through to the period between the two world wars.

Barnett studied civil engineering and design under J. Armstrong at Wolverhampton, London and Swindon, England.

His posts included: Source:[8] John Davis Barnett collected what became a research library with special emphasis on literature, history and science and technology.

The main body of the Barnett collection, some 40,000 volumes, was donated to the University of Western Ontario, 10 August 1918.

[10] Barnett was the head of the Grand Trunk Railway Literary and Scientific Institute[11] during the many years he worked for the GTR.

In 1909 an Act was passed providing for permanent establishment of Library Institutes under the Province of Ontario Department of Education.

[16] At the opening of the 20th century the Canadian identity was just awakening and the need for national cultural and educational institutions was beginning to be discussed within the broader political arena.