A system for efficiently retrieving information from one of several databases. The system acts as an intermediary between users and databases, managing user access to the databases so that query specification, query execution, and query result retrieval can occur efficiently and securely. After verifying the identity of a user, the system determines the databases which the user is authorized to access and the database queries which the user is authorized to execute. The system then presents the user with available queries. If the user selects a predefined report form, the system presents the user with previously used options for that report form which the user can select. If the user selects a type of inquiry, the system presents the user with previously used inquiries of the selected type. After the user finishes specifying the query to be executed, the system then allows the user to schedule the query execution. When the scheduled execution time arrives, the system determines whether the selected query can be currently executed, and whether it is actually necessary to execute the query to return accurate query results. If execution is needed to obtain accurate query results and the selected query can be currently executed, the system automatically performs the query execution. After query execution is completed, the system notifies specified users of the query results, and ensures that the query results will be available to the requesting user and to other users.