The Wits Discovery Tool is a one-stop search platform that allows Wits students and researchers to search across multiple library resources simultaneously. Instead of searching databases individually, this tool integrates books, e-books, journal articles, theses, and other academic materials into a single, easy-to-use interface.
✅ Unified Search – Find books, articles, e-books, and more in one search.
✅ Filters & Refinements – Narrow results by date, format, subject, or peer-reviewed sources.
✅ Remote Access – Access full-text materials off-campus using your Wits credentials.
✅ Citation Tools – Generate citations in APA, Harvard, and other styles.
✅ Save & Export – Save articles and references to your account or export them to EndNote/Zotero.
This search tool allows you to find content from the library catalogue, all the library’s databases, journals, ebooks, the institutional repository WIReDSpace, and unique digital collections only available in the Wits library.
1️⃣ Open your browser and go to www.wits.ac.za/library.
2️⃣ On the homepage, find the Discovery Search Box in the center of the screen.
3️⃣ Click inside the search bar and type your keywords, author, or book title.
"This tool searches across books, journal articles, theses, and more in one go!"
1️⃣ Type "sustainable architecture" and hit Enter.
2️⃣ You’ll see a list of results, including e-books, print books, and journal articles.
3️⃣ Use the filters on the left to refine results by:
"For example, if you only want journal articles, select ‘Peer-reviewed Journals’ on the left."
1️⃣ Click on a title to open the detailed view.
2️⃣ If it’s a book, note the call number and library location.
3️⃣ If it’s an e-book or article, click ‘Full Text Online’ to open it.
4️⃣ If prompted, log in with your Wits credentials to access it off-campus.
"If you see multiple links under ‘Full Text Online,’ try each one until you find the correct version."
1️⃣ Use the ‘Save’ button to add items to your favorites.
2️⃣ Click ‘Cite’ to generate a citation in APA, Harvard, or another format.
3️⃣ Use ‘Export’ to send references to EndNote or Zotero.
"This makes it easy to manage your references when writing assignments!"