An agent employment system comprising at least one data terminal and at least one server computer. The data terminal is connected to a communications network and having a display device. The sever computer is connected to the data terminal by the communications network and having a community (67) for storing an agent (63). The server computer has agent-transmitting means for transmitting the agent (63) to the data terminal at a first timing. The data terminal has agent-receiving means for receiving the agent (63) transmitted from the server computer and second agent-transmitting means for transmitting the agent 63 back to the server computer at a second timing. Thus, the invention can provide a novel information management system, agent employment system, information management method, agent employment method, data-providing apparatus and data-recording medium, in which a user can easily obtain an electronic pet that acts as an agent satisfying desired conditions.