1. A method comprising: receiving a database query language statement to initiate a read-only transaction within a database management system and an indicator specifying that uncommitted data item values modified in other transactions are to be read within the read-only transaction; initiating the read-only transaction within the database management system; and taking a data snapshot of a most recently modified data item values of data items specified in the query language statement for use within the read-only transaction and holding the data snapshot in memory.