The Narrator of Harry Potter Audio Reminds Borders Books & Music Customers to Claim their Copy of ``Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'' June 21

Business Wire, June 18, 2003

Business Editors

ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 17, 2003

Jim Dale, Celebrated Reader of the Harry Potter Audiobook Series,

Reads Excerpt of New Book on E-Mails Sent to

Customers Who Pre-Reserved

With only four days remaining before the release of the fifth book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series on Saturday, June 21, Borders Books & Music customers across the nation who pre-reserved their copy of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" are receiving special e-mail and voicemail messages featuring the voice of Harry Potter audio book series, Jim Dale. Both messages remind fans to enjoy midnight parties at all 415 Borders Books & Music locations on Friday, June 20, and to claim their pre-reserved copy by end of day Sunday, June 22. The e-mail message also features an exclusive excerpt of the book read by acclaimed Potter narrator Dale.

"The excitement surrounding this book just keeps growing," says Tami Heim, president of Borders stores. "We know these last few days of waiting are tortuous for avid Harry Potter fans, so we wanted to give them a surprise message from the voice of Harry Potter himself to give them something to think about and talk about in the final days before the release."

To date, Borders stores have taken over 450,000 reservations for the highly anticipated title. Over 300,000 customers who reserved prior to June 5 will be called, and over 90,000 will receive the e-mail. The book is expected to become the fastest-selling hardcover book in Borders' history, surpassing all previous sales records - including "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," released in July of 2000. Hundreds of thousands of customers are anticipated to attend Potter parties in Borders stores nationwide.

Sealed cartons of books have begun to arrive in the back rooms of stores bearing bold "Do Not Open Until June 21" messages. Stores' staffs are busy preparing for the large crowds expected to shop throughout the release weekend. Plans to sort customers into the houses of Hogwarts to expedite the pick-up and pay process at the stroke of midnight are well underway, and general managers are mapping out traffic flow patterns and manning important posts at the front of store, information stations and cash wrap to ensure customer satisfaction and comfort the night of release.

"Our employees are eager to open those boxes and put books into the hands of our customers," says Heim. "They've worked hard to make this Harry Potter book release the most magical to date."

Borders will sell the 896-page, 38-chapter book at 40% off of the publisher's list price of $29.99. A collector's edition will also be available at 40% off of the publisher's list price of $60.00. The unabridged audio CD and cassette versions of the book will be released simultaneously with the book. Both audio versions will be sold at 30% off of the publisher's list prices.

For more information on the Harry Potter Eve events, call your local Borders store. To locate the nearest Borders, visit www.bordersstores.com.

About Borders Group

Borders Group (NYSE:BGP) is a leading global retailer of books, music, video and other information and entertainment items with stores in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. A FORTUNE 500 company headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group employs 32,000 worldwide and operates over 410 Borders domestic superstores, 34 international Borders stores, 37 Books etc. locations and approximately 775 Waldenbooks stores. Teamed with Amazon.com, the company also offers online shopping through Borders.com (www.borders.com) and Waldenbooks.com (www.waldenbooks.com). More detailed information on the company is available at www.bordersgroupinc.com. Information on Borders stores is available through www.bordersstores.com.