NEW YORK, NY – October 27, 2008 –Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest bookstore, announced today the launch of the annual Barnes & Noble Holiday Book Drive taking place in stores across the country from November 1 to January 1.  The Barnes & Noble Holiday Book Drive invites customers to share the joy of reading with children in need and donate books through locally designated non-profit organizations.  Many recipients are schools, libraries, literacy organizations, family social service agencies and homeless centers.

“Our holiday book drive continues to reach more and more children each year.  What makes our Holiday Book Drive so successful is that it’s locally run.  Each Barnes & Noble store picks the group or groups that will benefit from the Holiday Book Drive.  It’s a great opportunity for stores and customers to provide new books for children through donations to local charities,” said Steve Riggio, chief executive officer of Barnes & Noble, Inc.  “On a national level, Barnes & Noble and its subsidiary Sterling Publishing will be making a donation of 100,000 books to our literacy partner First Book.”

“Through the gift of these books to First Book, the heroes at Barnes & Noble are giving children in need a treasure to warm their holidays and a powerful tool to brighten their future,” said Kyle Zimmer, president of First Book.

Customers may contact their local Barnes & Noble store to find out how to participate in the Holiday Book Drive.  To find a local store, go to Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com) and click on the Stores & Events tab to access the store locator.