Page Titles
- Page titles should be brief, clear, informative, and unique.
- When adding new pages in LibGuides, the "Page Name" field is equivalent to the "Title" field.
![](https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/355010/images/LibGuide_PageTitle.png)
Headings
- Headings help in organizing a web page.
- When creating headings in LibGuides make sure to use the actual heading option and don't just make them visually look different.
![](https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/355010/images/LibGuides_Headings.png)
Alt-Text for Images (Alternative text)
- Making images and graphics "visible" to all users is one of the first principles of accessibility.
- The way you make your image visible to everyone is by adding "alternative text" or "alt-text".
- Adding alt-text to your images is an accessibility best practice.
- Adding alternative text ("alt text") to an image, will make images and graphics "visible".
- For people using screen readers or browsing speech-enabled websites alt-text can be read aloud or rendered as Braille.
- Alt-text gives the speech input software users the ability to put focus onto a button or linked image with a single voice command.
- Alt-text allows mobile users to turn images off to help with download speeds or limit data-roaming charges.
- In LibGuides there are several ways to add alt-text to images.
- You can add "default" alt-text to an image by using the "Image Manager" to upload the image.
- Each time you reuse an image its default alt-text will be attached.
- This greatly increases the odds alt-text won't be overlooked (especially for images in your shared library.)
- You can also add /change alt-text when you add an image in a Rich Text/HTML.
How to add default alt-text to an image via the Image Manager:
- Go to Content in top menu bar
- Click on Image Manager in drop down menu
![](https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/355010/images/Accessing_Image_Manager.png)
- In the Image Manager window, upload a new image, then click on the thumbnail and/or click on the thumbnail of image already uploaded to add default alt-text. (Make sure to click on the actual image and not link icon.)
![](https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/355010/images/Image_Manager.png)
- In the Edit Image Properties window, enter your alt-text into the Alternative Text field.
- Click the Save button.
![](https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/355010/images/Edit_Image_Properties_Alternative_text.png)
How to add alt-text to an image you add via the Rich Text/HTML box:
- Select "Add Rich Text/ HTML"
![](https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/355010/images/RichTextHTMLbox.png)
![](https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/355010/images/ImageIconSelect.png)
- In the "Image Properties" window type in the alt-text in the "Alternative Text" field.
![](https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/355010/images/ImagePropertiesBox.png)
Lists and Tables
- Do not create lists or tables manually, use the built in formatting.
- Do not use tables for layout.
- When creating tables make sure to add table row headings.
![](https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/355010/images/LibGuides_formatting_screen.png)
Check Color Contrast
- Check to see if the colors you've picked for your tabs and background are accessible.
- Use color contrast evaluation tools.
- WebAIM Color Contrast Analyzer - Check your text with this tool to see if it can be read based on the text and background color, ensuring your site meets and exceeds accessibility guidelines.
- WebAIM Link Contrast Generator - Check link color versus text and background color for accessibility.
Why worry about color contrast?
- Choosing accessible colors for your documents and site is important.
- Colors affect the readability of your document and site for all users, not just those with vision impairments.
- The only people for whom the color choices don’t matter are those using screen readers.
How to use color correctly:
- Don't use color as the only way to communicate information, always make sure meaning is conveyed in multiple ways.
- This is true for the main text of your document, links in blocks and images of text.
- In the case of links, use another identifier such as bold or underline to indicate a link verses using color alone.
- Run your site and documents through color contrast checkers to make sure the contrast ratio is good.
- To meet basic guidelines (Level AA) text must have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 (or 3:1 for large text).
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