Abstract: A distributed information network (10) is constructed for gathering information from sites (16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) distributed across a globally accessible computer network, i.e., the Internet. The distributed information network preferably includes a root server (14) that stores a list of multiple distributed sites each represented by metadata. A network browser (12) delivers an information search request to the root server, which in response develops a profiled information search request. The information provider of each of the distributed sites stores metadata corresponding to information content that is retrievable in response to the profiled information search request for search results derivable from the information content to which the metadata correspond.