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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 Jvqpn7YOeNnqjE7h4zYZFg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950138-09-000640.txt : 20091001
<SEC-HEADER>0000950138-09-000640.hdr.sgml : 20091001
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091001083840
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950138-09-000640
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090929
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091001
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091001

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RIGGIO LEONARD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000927587

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12302
		FILM NUMBER:		091097099

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		122 FIFTH AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10011
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>oct_lriggio-4ex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>\BN(NEW)\2009\OCT 1 FILINGS\LENRIGGIO-4\
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-09-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000890491</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BARNES &amp; NOBLE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BKS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000927587</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RIGGIO LEONARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BARNES &amp; NOBLE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>122 FIFTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10011</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman of the Board</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>667058</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.75</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15942892</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares disposed of by Barnes &amp; Noble College Booksellers, Inc., a New York corporation (&quot;B&amp;N College&quot;), that had been beneficially owned by the Reporting Person and his wife, Louise Riggio, in partial payment of bonuses by B&amp;N College to its management team, prior to the acquisition by the Issuer of B&amp;N College on September 30, 2009 (the &quot;Acquisition&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects the closing price on the day preceding the date B&amp;N College distributed the shares to its management team, for valuation purposes only.  No proceeds were received by B&amp;N College with respect to its distribution of the shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Of these shares, 712,473 shares are owned indirectly in a rabbi trust established by the Issuer for the benefit of the Reporting Person, and 4,800,876 shares are owned indirectly through LRBKS Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation beneficially owned by the Reporting Person and Louise Riggio.  Prior to the Acquisition, B&amp;N College contributed 4,800,876 shares to LRBKS Holdings, Inc., and immediately thereafter all of the stock of LRBKS Holdings, Inc. was distributed to the Reporting Person and Louise Riggio.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Leonard Riggio</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-10-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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