SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                             CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
                          TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 29, 2003
                                                           -------------

                              BARNES & NOBLE, INC.
                              --------------------

             (Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                                    Delaware
                                    --------

                 (State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

                1-12302                                 06-1196501
         ----------------------               -------------------------------
        (Commission File Number)             (IRS Employer Identification No.)

  122 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY                         10011
  ------------------------------                        --------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)              (Zip Code)

        Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code (212) 633-3300
                                                           --------------


          -----------------------------------------------------------
         (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

                    ----------------------------------------

Item 5. Other Events and Required FD Disclosure

     On July 29, 2003, Barnes & Noble, Inc., announced that it had reached an
agreement with Bertelsmann AG and BOL.US Online, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary
of Bertelsmann, to acquire all of BOL.US Online, Inc.'s ownership interest in
barnesandnoble.com inc. The acquisition is subject to certain closing conditions
and is expected to close within 45 days. A copy of the press release is attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

       (c) Exhibits

           99.1 Press release dated July 29, 2003



                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                         BARNES & NOBLE, INC.
                                         (Registrant)

                                         By:/s/ Joseph J. Lombardi
                                           ---------------------------------
                                           Name: Joseph J. Lombardi
                                           Title:Chief Financial Officer

Date: July 30, 2003