<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 (B) FORM 10-Q FOR THE TWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED JULY
31, 1999.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-29-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           4,518
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   12,890
<ALLOWANCES>                                       881
<INVENTORY>                                    194,578
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               219,117<F1>
<PP&E>                                         117,550
<DEPRECIATION>                                  55,357
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 283,014<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          129,278
<BONDS>                                              0<F3>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0<F4>
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           181
<OTHER-SE>                                     115,453
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   283,014
<SALES>                                        175,005
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               175,005
<CGS>                                          129,284
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  165,575
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 6,717
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,182
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    531
<INCOME-TAX>                                       202
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                329
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       329
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.02<F5>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.02<F5>
<FN>
<F1>OTHER CURRENT ASSETS 8,012
<F2>OTHER ASSETS 1,704
<F3>LONG TERM DEBT 36,944
<F4>DEFERRED INCOME TAXES 1,158
<F5>THE EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATIONS HAVE BEEN PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SFAS NO. 128 AND BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE HAVE BEEN ENTERED IN PLACE
OF PRIMARY AND FULLY DILUTED, RESPECTIVELY.
</FN>