1. A method of processing an update operation in a directory system having a reference layer having directory functionality and a supplemental layer operative intermediately between the reference layer and a user, wherein the supplemental layer comprises a non-persistent store, the method comprising: receiving the update operation, the update operation having an associated attribute; determining whether the attribute associated with the update operation is stored in the non-persistent store or a persistent store; updating the non-persistent store or the persistent store based on the determination of whether the attribute is stored in the non-persistent store or the persistent store; and wherein updating operation further comprising determining whether the attribute associated with the update operation is stored in a non-persistent store associated with a peer directory.