Webinar: Brief, but Descriptive: Writing Effective Alt Text

Originally presented February 19, 2025

Adding alt text to images is an essential accessibility practice for librarians. A brief textual description used by screen readers, alt text should be present anytime a librarian uses an image, including in social media marketing, instructional materials and online guides, and websites. 

Effective alt text can be tricky. How detailed does one need to be? Would context change the alt text? And if alt text is supposed to be brief, how does one describe complex images like artwork and research data? In this webinar, Melissa Wong will help participants learn to write effective alt text for different contexts and types of content, from simple social media posts to complex scientific and artistic materials.

Click the video below to access the recording, slides, and transcripts.

When you continue past the introduction to the webinar, you'll be prompted to log in. We require login to view the whole tutorial so we can provide certificates of completion for your records and for professional development credit. No purchase is required and you can create a Niche Academy account if you don't already have one. The certificate will be available for download when you have completed all sections of the tutorial.  

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