As B. Dalton's president, he saw the unit become the nation's largest bookseller, growing to 517 stores, from 168.

It was a move intended to force the world's largest bookseller to relinquish control over pricing.

But many publishers disagree and say that costs for certain types of display arrangements with large booksellers are becoming too high.

The deal could prove damaging to the Internet's largest bookseller, Amazon.com.

Another unknown is the ultimate strength of the competition that Amazon.com is beginning to face from large booksellers.

He said he had come to the expo in the hopes of attracting a large bookseller, but so far, no one had bitten.

With 799 retail locations, an extensive Web site and about 40,000 employees, Barnes & Noble is the world's largest bookseller.

Barnes & Noble Inc., the nation's largest bookseller, posted a 17 percent increase in fourth-quarter earnings, meeting forecasts.

It is considered to be the largest libertarian bookseller.

The action follows a decision on Thursday by the nation's largest bookseller, Waldenbooks, to remove the book from its shelves.