<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 2,
1997.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-02-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           4,154
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   17,768
<ALLOWANCES>                                       356
<INVENTORY>                                    165,194
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               191,472<F1>
<PP&E>                                         106,754
<DEPRECIATION>                                  41,946
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 257,844<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          105,885
<BONDS>                                              0<F3>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0<F4>
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           174
<OTHER-SE>                                     103,399
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   257,844
<SALES>                                         74,469
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                74,469
<CGS>                                           55,474
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   70,191
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 3,143
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,119
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     16
<INCOME-TAX>                                         6
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                        10
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.00
<FN>
<F1>OTHER CURRENT ASSETS   4,712
<F2>OTHER CURRENT ASSETS   1,564
<F3>LONG TERM DEBT        46,917
<F4>DEFERRED INCOME TAXES  1,469
</FN>