Merging multiple libraries on 3 external drives

Question

This is STILL driving me mad!
I have 2 1TB drives and 1 500GB drive (all external) that have iTunes (.itl) and (xml) libraries on them. I also have a folder on another external drive I'd like to use too.
I've tried various fixes to merge these into one library that when I open iTunes, all files are in that library instead of doing what I do now which is to "choose library" when holding down option key and opening iTunes.
I thought I had it figured out the other night after I exported playlists and then imported them back into iTunes but, instead, it was copying files from one hard drive to another and I had to stop it because the drive was filling up. I'm still amazed that iTunes can't offer a simple "import playlist" feature that does so without copying the files.
Bottom line? Is there a simple way to have ONE library from all my external drives? So that when I open iTunes I see all my files from all my hard drives right there in front of me? I've read countless posts about this and find that some answers do SOME of what I want but invariably, files get copied and I have to stop the whole thing.
I would SO appreciate a simple, step by step, walk-me-through-it-like-I'm-an-8-year-old tutorial on this.
I'm ready to just buy a 4TB drive and do the whole tedious copying of every file I have onto it and then importing them into iTunes. I know this would literally take days to do I am dreading the whole ordeal. I have to believe that somewhere, someone has had the very same issue and found a solution to it.
Appreciate any and all help on this. Thank you.

Answer 1

1) I believe I currently only have one library- is this the folder under Pictures called "iPhoto Library"? Is there anywhere I can check which library/ies are being displayed by iPhoto?
No - if you are using iPhoto Library Manager the current library name is displayed - without it the only way is to right click (control click) on a photo and use the show file option to see the path or to launch iPhoto while depressing the option (alt) key and using teh select library option to choose a library
2) Can I create new libraries, in order to split my sole existing library into smaller libraries, so that I can thereby shift some of my photos off onto the EHD? if so, how? Is there a limit to how many libraries can I have?
There is no limit
2) If the answer to 2) is no, is there any other way I can I move some of the photos onto the EHD?
You can move the eitire library there or using iPhoto library manager any portions of it
3) If I can and do split the library as per 2) can I then display images from more than one library simultaneously in iPhoto, or do I have to toggle between the separate libraries in some way?
You can only view one library at a time - toggling is either launching with the option key or using IPLM
4) If I can split the library and as per 2) and 3) above, can I store some of the libraries on my Powerbook hard drive and others separately on the EHD and still access both/all of them simultaneously in iPhoto?
See previous answer - no simultaneous access
5) Would there be any problems to 4) above if I access the EHD over a cable network rather than a direct connection?
a direct ocnnection is best - wired ethernet is second and wireless is not advised
As a further complication once I have created space on my hard disk I will be upgrading to iLife '08 and therefore a newer version of iPhoto, will this cause any complications with the above?
Yes - each seperate library will have to be upgraded and they must all be the same version
LN