<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 THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED MAY 3,
1997.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-02-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-03-1997
<CASH>                                           4,720
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   18,234
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    165,053
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               192,117<F1>
<PP&E>                                          92,982
<DEPRECIATION>                                  30,339
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 256,385<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          115,126
<BONDS>                                              0<F3>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0<F4>
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           174
<OTHER-SE>                                      96,710
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   256,385
<SALES>                                         68,237
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                68,237
<CGS>                                           50,696
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   63,939
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 2,692
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,011
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    595
<INCOME-TAX>                                       226
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       369
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .02
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .02
<FN>
<F1>4,110  Other current assets.
<F2>1,625  Other assets.
<F3>42,906 Long term debt.
<F4>1,469  Deferred income taxes.
</FN>