The present invention provides an interactive library system having a
computer in telecommunication link with at least one user computer and
computer of at least one content provider requiring payment for
information access. The interactive library system performs the
following: Receiving, by the library system computer, user identification
and password from the user computer. Comparing, by the library system
computer, the received user identification and password with authorized
user identifications and corresponding passwords stored in the library
system to determine whether to grant access to the interactive library
system. If the comparison results in grant of access, then the
interactive library system provides one or both of the following: (1)
Receiving, by the library system computer, input from the user computer
specifying type of information desired by the user. Establishing, by the
library system computer, telecommunication link with the content provider
computer. Transmitting, by the library system computer, the type of
information desired by the user as search request to the content provider
computer. Receiving, by the library system computer, result of the search
request from the content provider computer. And providing, by the library
system computer, the result to the user computer. (2) Setting, by the
library system computer, the user's privileges. If the user's privileges
correspond to a first preselected level of access, then providing, by the
library system computer, access to information in a Deal Room. And if the
user's privileges correspond to a second preselected level of access,
then providing, by the library system computer, right to modify Deal Room
information and/or upload electronic files to the Deal Room.