It was useful to point him in the right direction - but he could feel a bit dismissed. We need to make sure we treat young people with respect and as equals. A simple smile and a demonstration of genuine interest in a young person's enquiry goes a long, long way...
But it's not too late. Go to the shelves and talk to Tom about what he needs. Check that Tom has found what he wants. Even though it is busy this is important: this contact with him is going to give him confidence about using the library and also in learning how to find what he needs in the library.
Young people often find it difficult to express what they need. You might need to probe a bit deeper. How much information have they got already, or are they starting from scratch? Questions like this will establish what level of resource will suit your customer best.

Think about any gaps here in your knowledge.

Check with colleagues for answers.

If he's quite happy browsing on his own that's fine, but reassure him that he can come back for more help if he needs to.
This may not be the end of this situation. Explore what might happen next.

Now try the next Scenario: Listening Well