LinuxQuestions.org - XMMS question on installation

Hello (the following was all done through console: )
I know it shouldn't be hard, but i have had a tough time installing this program. First I attempted to download and install the required libraries. This was done by untar'ing them then typing ./configure while inside the newly made directory. (IF THIS IS THE INCORRECT WAY PLEASE TELL ME). Once I did that to all the required ones stated by the documentation I went and did the same thing to the actual xmms file (untar'ed then ./configure). But this following error shows up:

...
checking for glib-config... /usr/local/bin/glib-config
checking for GLIB - version >= 1.2.2...
*** 'glib-config --version' returned 1.2.9, but GLIB (1.2.10)
*** was found! If glib-config was correct, then it is best
*** to remove the old version of GLIB. You may also be able to fix the error
*** by modifying your LD_LIBRARY_PATH enviroment variable, or by editing
*** /etc/ld.so.conf. Make sure you have run ldconfig if that is
*** required on your system.
*** If glib-config was wrong, set the environment variable GLIB_CONFIG
*** to point to the correct copy of glib-config, and remove the file config.cache
*** before re-running configure
no
configure: error: *** GLIB >= 1.2.2 not installed - please install first ***

I understand (i think) what it's asking me for, It doesn't want the old 1.2.1 glib on my system. It tells me how to fix this error but I dont know what "LD_LIBRARY_PATH" or "/ect/ld.so.conf" is (google was no help either).

Inside the "/usr/local/bin/" directory is the file "glib-config" (like it said 1st line) but i think that just states what version it is. Does anyone know how for me to completely get rid of glib so i can reinstall it?

Thanks,
Jay

-also if anyone wants to explain what ./configure does that will be helpful too. I've been told by websites to do it, not explaining what it does. Also what about "make" and "make install"?