AASL Announces 2026 Best Digital Tools for Teaching & Learning

CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has released its annual list of Best Digital Tools for Teaching & Learning. The Best Digital Tools provide opportunities for school librarians to enhance learning, engage learners, and collaborate with educators. The list can be found at https://www.ala.org/aasl/awards/best.

AASL’s Best Digital Tools list recognizes digital resources that support teaching, learning, and student engagement in K–12 education. Selected by a committee of AASL member school library professionals, the annual list highlights innovative tools that meet the evolving needs of students, educators, and school libraries. The recognized tools are evaluated for educational value, accessibility, ease of use, and their ability to enhance learning experiences across diverse school communities.

“This year’s recipients demonstrate how high-quality digital tools can foster creativity, inquiry, literacy, and college and career readiness for students of all ages,” said Committee Chair Shannon Gile. “From digital storytelling and financial literacy to research databases and multilingual reading platforms, these tools reflect the evolving needs of today’s learners and educators.”

2026 Best Digital Tools for Teaching & Learning

Library & Research Resources

• MakeMake Digital Library en Español offers a high-quality curated collection of Authentic Latin American fiction and non-fiction ebooks for kids K-8. MakeMake provides an attractive selection of highly visual content (a unique collection of comics, graphic novels, picture books and illustrated non-fiction) and interactive ebooks in an easy-to-use platform.
• Gale in Context: Elementary gives kids a head start on building their information literacy skills by providing young learners with a trusted place to search for answers and explore their interests- inside and outside of the classroom.

College, Career & Financial Readiness

• Gale Presents: Peterson’s Test and Career Prep is an online learning resource that offers a central hub for standardized test prep, college planning, career assessment, job searches, and more. An accessible solution that will help students accomplish their education and career goals.
• Intuit for Education provides high school and college students with free curriculum and tools to develop financial literacy, capability, and confidence for personal and professional success.

Content Creation & Instructional Support

• Pixton is a comic maker built for K-12 students. Through the creative process of choosing characters, writing dialogue, and sequencing panels, learners create comics that build literacy, deepen comprehension, and strengthen critical thinking across every subject and every grade level.
• My Worksheet Maker creates customized worksheets that support library and classroom instruction. Whether teaching research skills, digital literacy, or reading comprehension activities, a school librarian can tailor worksheets based on learning goals, grade levels, and skills. The worksheets are easy to create and customize and are ready to print or be shared with other teachers.

Supplemental Learning Platforms

• BBC Learning Hub is an award-winning commercial education site from BBC Studios. With a goal to inspire the next generation of learners, along with their parents and teachers, to explore, understand and shape the world around them!

"The AASL Best Digital Tools committee selected resources that not only provide strong educational value, but also promote accessibility, student engagement, and authentic learning experiences,” said AASL President Amanda Kordeliski. "School librarians play a vital role in connecting students and educators with trusted digital resources, and these recognized tools exemplify excellence in supporting teaching and learning.”

A Best Digital Tools presentation will be held at ALA’s Annual Conference on Sunday, June 29, from 9:00-10:00 a.m. For more information, visit https://2026.alaannual.org/.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.