-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 /UyXGRkBl1+TFvnaynImyA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950138-03-000679.txt : 20031210
<SEC-HEADER>0000950138-03-000679.hdr.sgml : 20031210
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031210161021
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950138-03-000679
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031208
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031210

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITH MICHELLE L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001175538

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12302
		FILM NUMBER:		031047504

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BARNES & NOBLE INC
		STREET 2:		122 FIFTH AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10011

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BARNES & NOBLE INC
		STREET 2:		122 FIFTH AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10011

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BARNES & NOBLE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000890491
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-MISCELLANEOUS SHOPPING GOODS STORES [5940]
		IRS NUMBER:				061196501
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		122 FIFTH AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10011
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2126333300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		122 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10011
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>dec10_smith-4ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
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<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-12-08</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000890491</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BARNES &amp; NOBLE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BKS</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001175538</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH MICHELLE L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BARNES &amp; NOBLE INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>122 FIFTH AVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10011</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>Vice President-Human Resources</officerTitle>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-08</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>2000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>16.75</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>2000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
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         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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         <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
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         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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      <transactionAmounts>
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         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
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         <value>Common Stock</value>
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      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-09</value>
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         <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1155</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
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         <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>845</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>18.72</value>
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         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
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      <transactionDate>
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      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>32.19</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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      <postTransactionAmounts>
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   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-09</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1000</value>
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         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>31.83</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>0</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>16.75</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-08</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>2000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2002-03-07</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2010-03-06</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>2000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>33478</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>16.75</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-09</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1155</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-03-07</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2010-03-06</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>1155</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>32323</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>18.72</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-09</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>845</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-07-24</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2012-07-23</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>845</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>31478</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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   </derivativeTransaction>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> Of these, options with respect to 1,577 shares vested on March 7, 2002 and the balance vested on March 7, 2003.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> Represents the total number of stock options (right to buy) beneficially owned by the Reporting Person with respect to the Issuer's Common Stock.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Michelle L. Smith</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-12-10</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----