1. A computer-implemented method for a client process on a computing device to obtain directory service information, comprising the steps of: a caching program maintaining a local directory service database; the client process obtaining access to the local directory service database made available in a shared memory space of the computing device; the client process checking the local directory service database through direct access to the shared memory space for a desired directory service information entry; the client process retrieving the desired entry if it is present in the local directory service database; and the client process notifying the caching program of a cache miss if the desired entry is not present in the local directory service database.