<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
BOOKS-A-MILLION INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
INCOME AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 3,
1996.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-01-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-04-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-03-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           3,859
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   13,173
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    150,629
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               171,694<F1>
<PP&E>                                          77,666
<DEPRECIATION>                                  22,867
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 228,151<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          103,702
<BONDS>                                              0<F3>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           174
<OTHER-SE>                                      91,924
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   228,151<F4>
<SALES>                                        117,044
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               117,044
<CGS>                                           86,740
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  109,231
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 4,343
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,069
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,401
<INCOME-TAX>                                       912
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,489
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,489
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.09
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.09
<FN>
<F1><OTHER CURRENT ASSETS>                       4,033
<F2><OTHER ASSETS>                               1,658
<F3><LONG-TERM DEBT>                            31,134
<F4><DEFERRED INCOME TAXES>                      1,217
</FN>