1. A method comprising: copying a plurality of information records from a network directory database to a Network Information Service (“NIS”) map; monitoring the database to detect a change to at least one of the plurality of information records; if a change is detected, updating only a portion of the NIS map necessary to reflect the change to the at least one information record; receiving a NIS map request from a client; locating data corresponding to the request in the NIS map; and transmitting a NIS response containing data from the NIS map to the client, wherein said monitoring the database comprises: obtaining a first time stamp of a last modification of a database record; periodically obtaining a second time stamp of the last modification of a database record; and comparing the first time stamp to the second time stamp.