where is zlib?

[hsrai@gndec.ac.in]

On finding no deb package for GRASS (GIS s/w) 6.0 version, I tried to 
compile it from source. On giving "./configure" it says header file for 
zlib not found. I could correct that. Then it says "zlib" not found. I 
tried to find out its location, but could not. On giving following:

./configure 
--with-zlib-includes=/usr/src/kernel-headers-2.4.27-2-686/include/linux/ 
--with-zlib-libs=/lib/modules/2.4.27-2-686/kernel/lib/zlib_deflate/

It gave following message:

| checking for deflate in -lz... no
| configure: error: *** Unable to locate zlib library.

"zlib" has to be there, as I am using GRASS 6.0 Beta version on my 
existing installation.

Please help me to find out "zlib" library's location.

Thanks in advance,

--
H.S.Rai