The DDC is the most widely used classification system in the world. Libraries in more
than 140 countries use the DDC to organize and provide access to their collections,
and DDC numbers are featured in the national bibliographies of more than 60
countries. Libraries of every type apply Dewey numbers on a daily basis and share
these numbers through a variety of means (including WorldCat, the OCLC Online
Union Catalog). Dewey is also used for other purposes, e.g., as a browsing
mechanism for resources on the web.
The DDC has been translated into over thirty languages. Translations of the latest
edition of the DDC are completed, planned, or underway in Arabic, French, German,
Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, and Vietnamese.
Volume 1
(A) Introduction: A description of the DDC and how to use it
(B) Glossary: Short definitions of terms used in the DDC
(C) Index to the Introduction and Glossary
(D) Manual: A guide to the use of the DDC that is made up primarily of extended
discussions of problem areas in the application of the DDC. Information in the
Manual is arranged by the numbers in the tables and schedules.
(E) Tables: Six numbered tables of notation that can be added to class numbers to
provide greater specificity