How can I make a copy of my iPhoto library for a friend without moving the entire library to an external hard drive?

Export the selected photos from iPhoto to a folder on the hard drive.

• Select the photos in iPhoto.
• Then use the command "File > Export ".
• In the Export dialog select the format and the quality to give you a high quality and click "Export".
• Create one folder on the external drive and select this folder as the destination for the export.

1. Copying doesn't move, it makes a copy. So dragging the library to an external will make a copy on the external, and your original will remain where it is.

2. Assuming you only want to give a copy of the photographs rather than the whole library, you can export the images from iPhoto to the external:

This User Tip

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4921

has details of the options in the Export dialogue.