Abstract: A communication system including a plurality of private directories containing information; and a plurality of public directory listings stored on a data network, each subscriber of the communication system having a private directory and at least one public directory listing, each public directory listing being configured to enable information requests for information from a target subscriber's private directory to be made by making requests to subscribers and to be reviewed by or on behalf of the target subscriber in order to determine what information, if any, will be supplied in response to the information request.