Two user accounts on one computer - syncing one library with separate apps

I have just taken the plunge and moved over to a Macbook Pro from Windows. I am really impressed with the computer, but need some help with a particular problem.
My wife has her iPhone and iPad, both of which are synced to one iTunes library on her old computer. I also have my iPod Touch, which had it's own iTunes library on another laptop. We have now replaced these old computers with one Macbook Pro.
To keep all our stuff separate I have set up two accounts on the Macbook Pro and put a copy of all our music into one public folder, so that we can share the music library between our two accounts. I logged into my account and authorised my iPod Touch, which synced with the library and also backed up my apps to the same library. When I attempted to do the same on my wife's iPad through her account iTunes synced OK, but when I tried to sync her apps it came up with a message indicating that if I tick the sync box it will delete all her apps in favour of the apps already in the library? I presume I will come across the same issue with her iPhone - I am not willing to try until I can get to the bottom of the issue.
Is there a way of using the same library, but keeping the apps in separate folders? For some reason the iTunes library has separate folders for individual users to sync video, pics, etc, but the folder for the apps is included in the music folder?
Many thanks in advance for any help!
Andy

Hi Elvis Zuo,
Thank you for the suggestion, which is the only solution I could think of.
The problem is that this then means we have two separate copies of the iTunes library on our computer. At 25GB per library this will take up lots of hard drive space. I would prefer to try and use the same library between our two accounts/iTunes installs.
Thanks
Andy

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Welcome to Apple Support Communities.
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