Robert Waite Douglas ((1854-07-15)July 15, 1854 – (1931-01-09)January 9, 1931), known professionally as R. W. Douglas, was a Canadian librarian, bibliophile, editor, literary agent, author, and public speaker who served as Vancouver, British Columbia's chief librarian from 1911 to 1924 and as the first president of the British Columbia Library Association.

After he had consumed the available reading material at his family's home, he spent his spare time hunting muskrats for pelts which he sold to buy books.

[2] Alfred Piddington, owner of one of the largest book establishments in Toronto,[7] hired Douglas to manage his bookstore.

[2] In 1921, Douglas wrote to author L. M. Montgomery, commending her for "visualizing the soul of the Canadian people in the war" and for accurately portraying the "storm and stress of home life during those anxious days" in her recent book, Rilla of Ingleside.

Montgomery noted in her journal that Douglas’ comments pleased her and were the "first competent testimony" that she had been successful in capturing the essence of that time period in her book.

[15] A member of the British Columbia section of the Canadian Authors Association, Douglas served as vice-chairman.

[16] Douglas became a literary adviser to the New Amsterdam Book Company, a large New York City publishing house.

Designed as a companion volume to Albert Lamartine's Love Songs from France, it contained works selected and edited by Douglas from Burns, Tannahil, Scott, Ramsay and others.

"[30] In 1913, Douglas delivered an address, which was subsequently published, to benefit St. Paul's Hospital, entitled "How Books May Help You.

"[31][32] To foster the love of good literature within the Vancouver community and to help provide a means to enjoy it, Douglas offered free weekly lectures at the library on a wide range of poets and writers.