iPod playcount/playlist transfer to Mac

[zyuzin4]

Hi I have a 2G 10GB ipod with some music on it including my most important playlists in iTunes. My hard drive got messed up and corrupted my iTunes library on the mac. It reverted to an old library and I had to add about 3000 songs that it was missing and now all of my old playcounts and playlists are gone. I have one song played 91 times according to the iPod. I was wondering if there is anyway to transfer this information over to iTunes. If I sync to my computer will it get rid of all the playcounts on the iPod too?

Also what is your guys ways to backup your iTunes library fully cause I have had this problem happen to me three times.

Thanks a lot,
Mike