How does one use debugging library packages?

[Oliver Elphick <olly@lfix.co.uk>]

I have libgtk1.2-dbg installed; it contains /usr/lib/debug/libgtk.so and
libgtk-1.2.so.0*, which contain debugging symbols.

I have not found a way to get these libraries used in preference to the
standard ones in /usr/lib.  I had thought of using -rpath, but gcc 3.2
does not seem to contain that option.

In the end I had to copy the debug libraries into /usr/lib.

What is the proper way to do it?

-- 
Oliver Elphick                                Oliver.Elphick@lfix.co.uk
Isle of Wight, UK                             http://www.lfix.co.uk/oliver
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     "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall 
      stand at the latter day upon the earth"             
                                       Job 19:25