An open letter to image libraries

To the Product Teams,

Image libraries and archives serve as the essential repositories of our global visual culture. Whether providing assets for major advertising campaigns or supporting independent creators, your platforms are the primary source of imagery for millions of websites. We wish to acknowledge and commend those libraries, such as Alamy, that already lead the way in embedding metadata within their files. However, as the digital landscape evolves, we believe there is a significant opportunity to go beyond the traditional ‘Caption’ field.

Whilst captions provide vital editorial context, they are often distinct from Alt Text, which requires a functional description of the visual elements for those using screen readers. At present, adding this specific accessibility data is a task relegated to the very end of the digital supply chain — typically within a CMS. Because this creates a high degree of friction, the requirement to add ALT text is typically ignored or overlooked. This is no longer merely a matter of user experience; it is an issue of global compliance under ADA Title II in the United States, the European Accessibility Act (EAA), and India’s IS 17802 standards.

As the industry moves toward adopting AI-driven workflows, we believe there is no better application for this technology than improving global digital inclusion. We propose that image libraries should move beyond repurposing captions and instead provide dedicated, AI-generated Alt descriptions. By allowing contributors or curators to edit and validate these descriptions before embedding them into the industry-standard IPTC AltTextAccessibility and XMP dc:description fields, you ensure that accessibility is ‘baked in’ to the product you deliver.

Currently, only professionals with access to specialised third-party software have the tools to embed this data. We propose that this capability should be democratised. By providing images that are ‘accessible by design’, you remove a significant hurdle for your customers, allowing their publishing platforms to auto-populate ALT fields instantly upon upload.

I am writing this as an individual advocate who feels that by simply connecting the dots of existing technology, we can remove the friction that prevents a truly inclusive web. One person with a clear idea can highlight a path, but it requires the scale and authority of your archives to ensure that accessibility data remains a permanent, inseparable part of the image’s lifecycle. I look forward to discussing how your metadata standards can evolve to support a more accessible digital landscape.

Kindera regards,

Simon Leadbetter, Founder at Kindera | #AltAtSource