According to the University of Georgia, discovery tools are a type of search engine. The following was taken from their website describing discovery tools.
WHAT ARE DISCOVERY TOOLS?
The library software and electronic content markets have been offering "discovery" tools for several years. These products are designed to provide a “Google”-like single-search experience of the world of library electronic resources, including the library online catalog, databases, e-journals, digital collections, and more.
Common Features of Discovery Tools Include:
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Single search box
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Consolidated index of bibliographic metadata from many sources
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Fast, single set of results tailored to a library’s collections
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Facets for easy search refinement by subject, author, type of material, and more
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Recommendations
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Bibliographic tools (folders, citations, persistent links)
Examples of Discovery Tool Brand Names and Vendors Include:
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EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS)
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Summon from Serials Solutions / ProQuest
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Primo from Ex Libris
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WorldCat Local from OCLC
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Encore from Innovative Interfaces
