<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 THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED OCTOBER
28, 2000.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-03-2001
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-30-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-28-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           6,710
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    9,875
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,088
<INVENTORY>                                    235,734
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               261,391<F1>
<PP&E>                                         132,836
<DEPRECIATION>                                  71,108
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 324,672<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          166,190
<BONDS>                                              0<F3>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0<F4>
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           181
<OTHER-SE>                                     119,561
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   324,672
<SALES>                                         90,133
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                90,133
<CGS>                                           67,898
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   87,656
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 3,772
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,345
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 (2,640)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    (1,003)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             (1,637)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    (1,637)
<EPS-BASIC>                                       (.09)<F5>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     (.09)<F5>
<FN>
<F1>10,160 OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
<F2>1,553 OTHER ASSETS
<F3>35,993 LONG TERM DEBT
<F4>2,747 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>