Which filing system was developed initially for library use and uses 10 general categories with 10 subdivisions at each level?

• A. Straight-numeric system
• B. Terminal-digit numeric system
• C. Decimal-numeric system
• D. Alphanumeric system

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is a library-based, decimal hierarchy that organizes topics using base-10 categories. This system uses ten broad general classes, and each class is further divided into ten subdivisions, with new digits added after the decimal to go even deeper. It was developed specifically for libraries to catalog and locate materials by subject, making it scalable and internationally recognizable. The decimal-numeric approach stands out because it combines subject-based organization with a scalable, decimal structure that can expand indefinitely as more topics are added. The other options don’t reflect this library-origin, decimal-hierarchical structure: straight-numeric lacks subject-based divisions, terminal-digit groups records by their ending digits rather than topic levels, and alphanumeric mixes letters with numbers rather than a pure decimal-based, hierarchical system.