Itunes library issues

I store my music library on an external drive and periodically back up the library to another external ( only when Itunes is not up). Recently I backed up my music library again, and the next time I went into Itunes to download some more music, Itunes can no longer find the library. The settings for the library location under Itunes  advanced preferences shows the library location on the external, but when I click on a song in my Itunes it says it can't find the music.
The music in the library plays when the song is selected directly from the library.
What am I missing? I had a friend who helped me out via remote when this happened last year, but she is no longer around and I don't recall her 'fix". Her solution also  lost all of my play history which is a small loss, but I would prefer to not lose that every time this happens, if possible.
I have tried the suggestion from archived threads about holding down the shift key while starting Itunes and selecting the appropriate folder. It will not allow me to select the existing Itunes folder

Hi!  Back again!  It's been a couple of weeks, and I hadn't had time to try your above suggestion until tonight. Having now tried it, I don't see anything happening when I hold down the Alt. key, though I tried it twice, after rebooting my computer each time.  Nowhere did it ask me which library I wanted to use.
In my (rather informal) files, I discovered this bit of information, which I have not tried.  Unfortunately, I don't know where I found it, but had made a word copy so I wouldn't lose it.  It appears to deal with externals, which is likely a large part of my problem.  Do you think it makes any sense at all?
iTunes music library.xml file is the default name.
When you moved the iTunes folder, iTunes no longer uses that file.
Quit iTunes.
Go to the iTunes folder on the external.
Rename the *iTunes library.itl* file to *iTunes music library.itl*
Restart iTunes holding the Option key.
Select Choose existing library and select *iTunes music library.itl* on the external.
iTunes should now update the *iTunes music library.xml* and not do anything with the iTunes library.xml file
I very much appreciate any time you have to reply to this query!
Thanks much!

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