User Perceptions and Metaphorical Framings in Academic Library Discovery Interfaces: A Comparative Study of Primo and Koha

Academic library discovery interfaces increasingly adopt design patterns associated with web search engines and e-commerce platforms. This article examines user perceptions and metaphorical framings in two academic library discovery interfaces, Primo and Koha. Using a heuristic audit, usability testing, and semi-structured interviews, the study investigates how users understand catalog functions and which metaphorical models shape their interaction. The findings indicate that search engine and online-shop framings dominate users’ mental models, influencing expectations and strategies even when task performance is limited. Participants often evaluated the interfaces positively despite difficulties with filtering, record interpretation, and specialist bibliographic features.