Published conference proceedings have been called both a great advancement and a despicable curse for astronomy. In reality, they simply fill a niche that any scientific society must have filled to remain healthy. Two obvious items they address are 1) the need for timely dissemination of research and 2) the need to provide a "snapshot" of the current state of a topic for students and established researchers alike. We present facts and figures regarding the nature of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series and its impact on astronomical reseach. We comment on how astronomers might best use conference proceedings to their advantage.