UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 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)   May 17, 2005
                                                 -------------------------------

                              BARNES & NOBLE, INC.
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             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                                    Delaware
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                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

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


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

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


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

     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

     |_| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
         (17 CFR 230.425)

     |_| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
         CFR 240.14a-12)

     |_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
         Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

     |_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
         Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





Item 2.02  Results of Operations and Financial Condition

     On May 17, 2005, Barnes & Noble, Inc. issued a press release announcing its
financial results for the first quarter ended April 30, 2005. A copy of this
press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
       
     The information in this Form 8-K and the Exhibit attached hereto shall not
be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the
Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific
reference in such filing.
 

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits

       (c)   Exhibits

     99.1  Press Release of Barnes & Noble, Inc., dated May 17, 2005








                                    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
                                               ----------------------
                                               Joseph J. Lombardi
                                               Chief Financial Officer


Date: May 17, 2005






                              Barnes & Noble, Inc.

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX




Exhibit Number     Description
--------------     -----------

99.1               Press Release of Barnes & Noble, Inc., dated May 17, 2005.