answers.input_text: short
answers.span_text: first published in the United States by Melvil Dewey in 1876
questions: where did the dewey decimal system come from
name: Dewey Decimal Classification
contexts: The Dewey Decimal Classification ( DDC ) , or Dewey Decimal System , is a proprietary library classification system first published in the United States by Melvil Dewey in 1876 . It has been revised and expanded through 23 major editions , the latest issued in 2011 , and has grown from a four - page pamphlet in 1876 . It is also available in an abridged version suitable for smaller libraries . It is currently maintained by the Online Computer Library Center ( OCLC ) , a non-profit cooperative that serves libraries . OCLC licenses access to an online version for catalogers called WebDewey .