<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 TWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED AUGUST 2,
1997.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-02-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-02-1997
<CASH>                                           4,292
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   17,136
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    156,460
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               182,441<F1>
<PP&E>                                          94,335
<DEPRECIATION>                                  33,072
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 245,319<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          105,183
<BONDS>                                              0<F3>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0<F4> 
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           174
<OTHER-SE>                                      97,238
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   245,319
<SALES>                                        140,104
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               140,104
<CGS>                                          103,877
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  131,059
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 5,415
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,184
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,446
<INCOME-TAX>                                       550
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       896
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .05
<FN>
<F1>(OTHER CURRENT ASSETS) 4,553
<F2>(OTHER ASSETS)  1,615
<F3>(LONG TERM DEBT)  41,136
<F4>(DEFERRED INCOME TAXES)  1,588
</FN>