ITunes Issues - Multiple Users/Libraries

I am experiencing several issues that revolve around multiple users, multpile iPods and two networked computers. To describe the situation - I have two computers networked with an external drive connected to the main computer. My wife, my son, and I are all users of the computers, we all have our own iPods and it seems like we have multiple libraries out there. I am looking for a solution to do the following: Consolidate all of the libraries into one shared library that all of us can use located on the external drive (due to size constraints and trasportability). The external drive is a plug and play type device with ample space for this. SOme of the issues I have are some songs appear in one iTunes list with a gray exclamation point in front of them and then you have to go searching for the proper folder/library to locate the file, so obviously there are multiple libraries/folders. I believe this has everything to do with my sons "ability" to fix things on the computer. Can anyone direct me to or provide me with a solution to this dilemma? Is there a way to consolidate these without creating multiple copies of the same songs (this has also occurred in the past when my son was solving things. Sorry for the long description but I am trying to provide as much info as necessary.

Each user on each computer will have to set iTUnes to use the external as the library location.
Next depends on what you want to do. Move all files to external then using iTunes add the files to iTunes library again. Empty library in iTunes then add files to library recreating library from scratch.
All users will have to maintain each library separately even though all files will be in same place and accessible to all users. When one person adds something to their own library the other ones will not know it. If someone else wants those files also then they will have to use add folder or add file option to add the files to their own library. It should not duplicate the files on the drive but is sometimes does when you do this. Deleting files or renaming them can be problematic if one user deleted a file another user has in library it will affect both. Podcasts are an exception, these will always duplicate if multiple users subscribe. This allows individual management of episodes.

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