Our group has seen so many years,
Approaching sixty-five,
Endeavoring unceasingly
To last, inspire, to thrive.
And we have found recurring need
When seeking pride and fame
– A quintessential need indeed –
We have to change our name!
An early change none can refute
Corrected impropriety
As we gave "Institute" the boot
And we embraced "Society."
A change of more moment brought joy to our eyes,
Although taken with much trepidation:
We threw out that word we had come to despise
And banished "Documentation."
That word, we agreed, simply failed to convey
A clear meaning to any hearer.
And so, to replace it, today all can say
"Information Science" – well that's so much clearer!
Fast forward. Through years of our happy confusion
Things changed but remained the same
'Til, on sober refection, we reached the conclusion
We had to revise our name.
But this time we wisely eschewed explanation
Of who or what are we.
We reasoned: "Whatever it is that we do, or whatever
it is that we produce, we will be more than happy
to give you our professional assistance with its
further development and commercial application."
(And we tacked on "Technology.")
Good doggerel needs a good moral I'm told,
Yet this nominal history
Alas, prompts no moral – but let me be bold –
It shrieks "Opportunity!"
Our work is unfinished. Why, it's hardly begun.
Let us once again alter our name!
For, through all our changing and having our fun,
One word has remained the same:
That first word, "American" (national pride)
Isn't it just a wee bit irrational?
Perhaps we should quietly set it aside
Since, in fact, we are now international.
