Projects: ALT Text

 

Our goal is to improve ALA's content by adding and cleaning up ALT text and titles

Staff are charged with this responsibility: Add ALT text to images found on/by means of ALA websites.

ALT Text (also known as an ALT attribute or ALT tag) improves accessibility by conveying image information to screen reader users and to all users who may not be able to load the image.

“ALT attribute text is a pillar of accessible website design and search engine optimization. Failure to include ALT tags with images represents a Priority 1 WCAG error and would mean your website would not be able to comply with basic UK DDA and SECTION 508 (in the US) recommendations...” Anderson, Shaun.  "How Many Words In IMAGE ALT Text For Google SEO? | Best Practices." Hobo Internet Marketing. 2 Jan. 2016. Web. 02 Feb. 2016.

Added benefits of the project will be:

  • Search Engine Optimization. 
  • Images will retain text descriptions if they are slow to load or broken.
  • Images found on ALA sites can be indexed if ALT text is added.

Step-by-step demonstrations for adding ALT text and titles in Drupal, Wordpress, and Mediawiki are provided in ALA Support. Guides for making accessible documents are also available.

Need Assistance?

Please contact the ITTS Helpdesk to work out any problems regarding the project at (312) 280-3273. 

An ALA leadership directive is the reason behind the project  to add missing ALT Text, but remember, it's just good design to include ALT text and titles. It also conforms with ALA policy B.3.3 to prevent barriers to accessibility.

“The American Library Association actively commits its programs and resources to those efforts that combat prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination against individuals and groups in the library profession and in library user populations on the basis of race, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, creed, color, religious background, national origin, language of origin or disability”