Exhibit 99-4

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

         In connection with the quarterly report of Barnes & Noble, Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ending August 3, 2002 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I,
Lawrence S. Zilavy, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, to the best
of my knowledge, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

         (1)      The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section
                  13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

         (2)      The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
                  all material respects, the financial condition and results of
                  operations of the Company.



                                                     /s/Lawrence S. Zilavy
                                                     ---------------------
                                                     Lawrence S. Zilavy
                                                     Chief Financial Officer
                                                     Barnes & Noble, Inc.
                                                     September 13, 2002