The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) has announced the appointment of Judith Fraenkel, Senior Director of Product Management at Ex Libris, part of Clarivate, as the new Chair of its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Committee. This appointment, which extends Fraenkel’s volunteer work with the committee that began in January 2024, recognizes her extensive experience and leadership in DEIA initiatives within the library solutions sector at Ex Libris.
Fraenkel will lead a committee of 24 volunteer members, guiding NISO's DEIA policy to further the organization's commitment to social justice and belonging in all its activities. The DEIA Committee plays a crucial role in providing guidance on issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, specifically within the context of NISO’s global work in developing, maintaining, and publishing technical standards related to publishing, bibliographic, and library applications.
At Ex Libris, Fraenkel has been a pivotal figure in advancing DEIA initiatives across organizational, community, and product levels. She has successfully implemented internal educational programs, fostered greater alignment with the ELUNA and IGeLU user communities, and provided DEIA guidance across various Ex Libris services. Her contributions include community-driven DEIA enhancements to the Central Discovery Index (CDI) and both Primo and Summon discovery services.
The NISO DEIA Committee serves as a vital resource to the NISO community, including the NISO Board, staff, Topic Committees, Working Groups, and other committees.
Fraenkel’s appointment marks a significant step forward in NISO’s ongoing efforts to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the information standards community.
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