<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 THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED NOVEMBER
1, 1997.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-02-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-01-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           4,327
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   18,138
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    192,797
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               220,658<F1>
<PP&E>                                         101,242
<DEPRECIATION>                                  36,026
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 287,477<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          145,706
<BONDS>                                              0<F3>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0<F4>
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           174
<OTHER-SE>                                      96,938
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   287,477
<SALES>                                        211,717
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               211,717
<CGS>                                          158,010
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  198,971
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 8,464
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               3,320
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    962
<INCOME-TAX>                                       366
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                596
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       596
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .03
<FN>
<F1>OTHER CURRENT ASSETS    5,396
<F2>OTHER ASSETS            1,603
<F3>LONG TERM DEBT         42,960
<F4>DEFERRED INCOME TAXES   1,699
</FN>