In the Netherlands, a national plan is developed for the mass conservation of archival and library holdings. It is designed as an overall plan composed of several interrelated elements, i.e., complementary research, inventory damage surveys, preventive measures, and pilot projects in aid of the further development and improvement of mass conservation methods, among which are two systems designed in the Netherlands. Lists three research projects that fit into this national plan. The first is the TNO-ACBAM project, which is concentrated on the influence of air pollutants (SO₂, NO₂, O₃) on paper degradation, and is aimed at the establishment of guidelines for the control of air quality in storerooms. So far, only preliminary results have been obtained. The second is an investigation of the acidity and condition of bound newspapers in Dutch libraries. The newspapers of the period 1850-1950 appear to have a high level of acidity, though the paper is not severely chemically degraded. Moreover, indications are found which contradict the role of air pollution in the acidification of these newspapers. In addition, the newspapers show considerable mechanical damage. The third research project is a comparative study of identical copies of books from the New York Public Library and the Dutch Royal Library. Extreme differences are found in the acidity and the physical condition of the paper. The high level of sulfur, determined by x-ray analysis, in the margins of the leaves in the New York books clearly demonstrates a substantial role of atmospheric SO₂ in the acidification of these books.