In a computer network system, the caches at individual stations are available to other stations. A central cache directory is maintained at a network server. Each time a station caches a data object received from a remote network, it informs the central cache directory. When a station comes online, it is asked to send a list of the contents of its cache. Whenever a station seeks an object from the remote network, the local network server first checks the central directory cache to see if the request can be satisfied at one of the local stations. Only if it cannot is the requested object retrieved from the remote network.