Barnes & Noble Announces $250 Million Share Repurchase Program.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--November 30, 1999--

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the nation's largest bookseller, announced today that its board of directors has authorized the purchase of as much as $250 million of its common shares. The company may repurchase shares from time to time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, depending on prevailing market conditions, and other factors.

"Barnes & Noble's strong financial position enables us to implement this repurchase program," said Leonard Riggio, the company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The board's decision demonstrates our commitment to enhancing shareholder value and our confidence in the performance and future prospects of Barnes & Noble."

As of October 30, 1999, Barnes & Noble, Inc. had approximately 70 million common shares outstanding. Shares repurchased by the company may be held as treasury shares or retired.

About Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) operates 528 Barnes & Noble and 444 B. Dalton bookstores, and Babbage's Etc., one of the nation's largest operators of video game and entertainment software stores. Barnes & Noble stores stock an authoritative selection of book titles and provide access to more than one million titles. They offer books from more than 50,000 publisher imprints with an emphasis on small, independent publishers and university presses. Barnes & Noble is one of the world's largest booksellers on the World Wide Web (http://www.bn.com), and the exclusive bookseller on America Online (Keyword: bn). barnesandnoble.com has the largest standing inventory of any online bookseller. Barnes & Noble also publishes books under its own imprint for exclusive sale through its retail stores, mail-order catalogs, and Web site.

General financial information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained via the Internet by visiting the company's investor relations Web site: http://www.shareholder.com/bks/.