John Winter Jones (16 June 1805 – 7 September 1881) was an English librarian.

[2] He was the first President of the Library Association in the U.K.[3] Jones was born in Lambeth, London[3] and he was prevented from joining the legal profession due to a problem with his speech.

[4] He had been educated at St Paul's School in London and then starting to train in the law at Lincoln's Inn before becoming the travelling secretary to the Charity Commissioners (c.1835–37).

His father was literary and had been editor of the Naval Chronicle and the European Magazine.

This figure had been negotiated by his predecessor, Sir Anthony Panizzi, who had been knighted for his efforts as the Chief Librarian.