In larger stations there are numerous posted schedules. The station personnel probably didn't understand your question, because they would all know where to find them. In Rome Termini, for example, they're all over the place, on the columns in the main concourse at the track level. In Bologna, they're spaced along the lower-level corridor (where you have to go to change tracks) every 20 meters or so. Even in the small station near where I live, there is pair inside and a pair outside.

If you don't want to, don't consult them. It will reduce the little crowd that's usually grouped around reading over each other's shoulders.

The "partenze" schedule is yellow; the "arrivi" schedule is pink. Here is an image of one, not really clear enough to read.

https://imageshack.com/f/5ctiburtina20111007104j

It's obviously for a small station. The main destinations seem to be Torino and Ventimiglia.

Printed schedules obviously cannot indicate last minute track changes - see the large overhead monnikers in stations to be sure that track matches that on the printed schedules.