1. A database system for storing data, comprising: a global repository containing metadata; a shared folder residing within the global repository, wherein the shared folder contains metadata which is to be shared; a first data mart linked to the global repository; a reference residing within the first data mart, wherein the reference specifies a link to of the metadata in the shared folder of the global repository and a user accesses the metadata through the first data mart by using the reference to read the metadata residing in the shared folder.