BARNES & NOBLE TEAMS WITH THE GEORGIA EARLY LEARNING INITIATIVE TO GIVE THE GIFT OF READING

December 9, 2002

DECEMBER 9, 2002 Barnes&Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world?s largest bookseller, invites its patrons to give the gift of reading to Georgia?s children this holiday season by participating in its annual Holiday Book Drive. Beginning today through December 24, Barnes & Noble patrons can purchase books for donation to child care centers in metro Atlanta and Athens, GA. 

Last year, Barnes & Noble, Inc. donated more than two million books nationwide. This year, Barnes & Noble stores in metropolitan Atlanta and Athens are teaming with the Georgia Early Learning Initiative (GELI) to help spread the joy of reading throughout Georgia. GELI exists to educate communitites on the importance of accessable, affordable and quality early care and education throughout Georgia and is working to make sure that every child in Georgia starts kindergarten ready to succeed.

Through the Holiday Book Drive, GELI wants to provide new books to children in early care and education centers throughout Georgia. Many of Georgia?s early care and education facilities lack the funds to provide enough books for the children they serve. According to the Carnegie Corporation Years of Promise report, 90 percent of a child's intellect, personality and social skills are formed by age three. Since early literacy is a huge part of school success, Georgia?s kids are in desperate need for assistance.

To participate in the Holiday Book Drive, simply stop by participating Barnes & Noble stores in the Atlanta and North Georgia area ? Buckhead, Town Center, Alpharetta, Norcross, Cumberland, Duluth, Perimeter, Mall of Georgia and Athens ? and purchase a new book for a child at a Georgia child care center. To further support this cause, Barnes & Noble will take an additional 10 percent off the purchase price of donated books. For more information about the Barnes & Noble Holiday Book Drive, please call 770.422.2938.

About Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is the world?s largest bookseller, operating 606 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 49 states. It also operates 286 B. Dalton Bookseller stores, primarily in regional shopping malls. The company offers titles from more than 50,000 publisher imprints, including thousands of small, independent publishers and university presses. It conducts its e-commerce business through Barnes & Noble.com (http://www.bn.com) in which it owns a 36 percent interest. Barnes & Noble also has approximately a 60 percent interest in GameStop (NYSE: GME), the nation?s largest operator of video game and entertainment software with 1,128 stores. General financial information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained via the Internet by visiting the company?s corporate Web site: http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/financials.

About The Georgia Early Learning Initiative
Founded in 1999 by the state of Georgia, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, the Georgia Early Learning Initiative (GELI) is working to improve the quality of early care and education in the state of Georgia. Research shows that quality early care and education is a vital part of readying children for success. By addressing teacher training, teacher compensation and the quality of early care and education, GELI is strengthening the crucial link between early experiences and future successes of Georgia?s children. For more information about the Georgia Early Learning Initiative, please visit www.geli.org or call 404.527.7307.


Jill Wilson
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
50 Barrett Parkway, Suite 1100
Marietta, GA 30066
770.422.2938, crm2656@bn.com

Amanda Bolster
The Georgia Early Learning Initiative
100 Edgewood Avenue, 3rd Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303
404.527.7307, abolster@unitedwayatl.org