Which term refers to the formal instruction aimed at teaching patrons how to locate information and assess its quality?

• A. Bibliographic instruction
• B. Reference service
• C. CIPA
• D. Reader's advisory

Answer: (A)

The concept is teaching patrons how to locate information and evaluate its quality. The best term for this formal instruction is bibliographic instruction. Librarians deliver these lessons to help people search catalogs and databases effectively, pick relevant sources, and judge what they find—checking aspects like authority, accuracy, currency, and bias. This kind of instruction is a core part of information literacy, equipping patrons to navigate information responsibly and independently. For example, a library workshop that walks students through crafting a search strategy, evaluating sources for credibility, and citing them correctly illustrates bibliographic instruction at work.

Reference service focuses on giving direct help to answer questions or find items, but not the structured teaching of information-location and evaluation skills. CIPA refers to a law about internet access filtering in libraries. Reader's advisory is about recommending books to read, rather than teaching how to locate and assess information.