Final answer:
The Dewey Decimal System is a library classification system used by most public libraries in the United States to organize their non-fiction collections, with each book assigned a specific number correlating to its subject matter.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Dewey Decimal System is a classification system that is typically used by most public libraries throughout the United States to organize their non-fiction collections. This system was developed by Melvil Dewey in 1876. When you are looking for a non-fiction book in these libraries, you look it up in a catalog, which now is often in a digital format, to find the respective Dewey Decimal number associated with the book's subject. Unlike public libraries, most research and university libraries use the Library of Congress classification approach to organize their materials, which is also a widely used method but differs from the Dewey system.
The correct answer to the student's question about what the Dewey Decimal System is used for is C. most public libraries throughout the United States.