<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
BOOKS-A-MILLION, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
OPERATIONS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q FOR THE TWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED JULY 29,
2000.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-03-2001
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-30-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-29-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           5,101
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   11,082
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,350
<INVENTORY>                                    209,860
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               234,046<F1>
<PP&E>                                         128,682
<DEPRECIATION>                                  67,818
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 296,519<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          136,649
<BONDS>                                              0<F3>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0<F4>
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           181
<OTHER-SE>                                     121,197
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   296,519
<SALES>                                         93,629
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                93,629
<CGS>                                           69,285
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   89,635
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 3,652
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,258
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   (916)
<INCOME-TAX>                                      (348)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               (568)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                      (568)
<EPS-BASIC>                                       (.03)<F5>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     (.03)<F5>
<FN>
<F1>9,353  OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
<F2>1,609  OTHER ASSETS
<F3>35,972 LONG TERM DEBT
<F4>2,520  DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
<F5>THE EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATIONS HAVE BEEN PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SFAS NO. 128 AND BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE HAVE BEEN ENTERED IN
PLACE OF PRIMARY AND FULLY DILUTED, RESPECTIVELY.
</FN>