Alt-text for images of collection material

Appropriate alt-text for images of Folger collection material depends on the image's context. The goal is to provide verbal description of basic visual aspects that are not already covered by the image caption and surrounding text.

"Collection Highlights" on the Folger website

When creating alt-text for images on the "Collections Highlights" pages, begin by reading the caption and the surrounding text. This provides your base line. Everything already written is taken as given and should not be repeated. Instead, provide a verbal description of basic visual aspects of the image that wouldn't otherwise be apparent to website visitors. Keep in mind that the website is aimed at a general audience. Visitors can find specialist information about the collection item by following the link to the catalog record.

For example, "Full page of handwritten text" or, more elaborately, "Full page of text handwritten in black ink on beige paper with large left-hand margin and seven horizontal creases" would be appropriate alt-text for the website's image of the Earl of Leicester's letter to Elizabeth I from 3 August 1558. Without even seeing the image, visitors to the website will know that it's a letter, who it's from, who it's to, when it was written, and the gist of what it contains. Alt-text provides the missing piece: what's literally visible in the image.