The article looks back on the 183 workshops and briefing sessions of the 15 annual UKSG conferences from 1990 to 2004. The content of this particular form of professional training reflects the development of the professional environment, interests and activities of librarians, especially the emergence of the digital library. Nine major subjects of information and debate are identified: human resource management, new software, acquisition of e-serials, legal aspects, emerging standards, usage statistics, library/vendor relationship, document delivery, and publishing. An analysis of attendance and some remarks on specific features of the sessions complete this “historical study”.