The document provides an overview of the Dewey Decimal Classification system. It explains that the DDC was created by Melvil Dewey in 1876 to organize library collections. The system uses a series of numbers divided by decimals to categorize materials by topic into ten main classes like science, arts, and history. These numbers help library patrons find materials on specific subjects within larger categories. The document provides examples of DDC numbers and how they direct users to materials about topics such as bicycles, cookies, and dogs.