How do I backup an iTunes library if it is on an external harddrive

Hi
Like so many I have an iTunes library that is rapidly outgrowing my internal harddrive. (ahh Dr Who why did you have to be so good!!??!)
I have been using timemachine to backup my MacBook's drive.
I found articles:
How to move iTunes library to external drive (pretty much simple as!!) I even have the perfect portable drive
How to Back up iTunes to an external drive (also simple)
But what I can't find (and maybe I am being stupid?) is how to back up that new iTunes library (in future backups) now that it is on it's own external drive.  Do I need to move it to the MacBook each month and do a manual back up? - pretty sure time machine wont back up the external drive (even though the time machine drive is way big enough)
Not having used external drives too often I am not sure if maybe I can back up the library by following the procedure for backing up to an external drive but just picking the library from where it sits on a second external drive to start it - guess I could just test this before I delete the internal library?
Both of my ideas seem time consuming (and a bit "waving the rubber chicken" to quote Merlin Mann) - any recommendations for a more automated process - the whole reason for me using Time machine is it works without me having to be involved. 
Any help would be appreciated
My need exceeds my skills
Thanx
Cecilia
(waiting to sort this out before upgrading to Lion )

I just love this.  I may have found the answer which showed up (from 2008) when I posted this Q (but of course did not show up when I first searched :?
https://discussions.apple.com/message/7566039#7566039
I will give this a test run over the weekend.  Cross fingers and wave that rubber chicken
C

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