Books-A-Million, Inc. Reports Comparable Store Sales Increase of 6.2%.

Business Editors

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 16, 2000

Books-A-Million, Inc. (Nasdaq/NM:BAMM) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended April 29, 2000. Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2001 increased 9.4% to $93.1 million from $85.1 million in the year-earlier period. Comparable store sales for the quarter increased 6.2%. Earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation for the first quarter increased 12.0% to $5.4 million from $4.9 million in the year-earlier period. Net income for the first three months of fiscal 2001 was $471,000, or $0.03 per diluted share, compared with $310,000, or $0.02 per diluted share, in the year-earlier period.

Commenting on the results, Clyde B. Anderson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are very pleased to begin fiscal 2001 with another quarter of improved sales and earnings. This marks our fifth consecutive quarter to report both positive comparable store sales and earnings. Our comparable store sales increase reflects the progress that we have made in making certain that our stores are in stock on the items our customers want most. In the book category, John Grisham's The Brethren, the Harry Potter series and Oprah's picks all performed well. The collectibles/Pokmon category also remained strong."

Anderson continued, "Our e-commerce efforts at Booksamillion.com and our web development business through our NetCentral division both are growing rapidly. At quarter's end, NetCentral delivered the first phase of a new web based customer service system for our stores."

Books-A-Million is one of the nation's leading book retailers and sells on the Internet at www.booksamillion.com. The Company presently operates 179 stores in 17 states. The Company operates four distinct store formats, including large superstores operating under the names Books-A-Million and Books & Co., traditional bookstores and combination book and greeting card stores, both operating under the name Bookland, and Joe Muggs Newsstands. The Company's wholesale operations include American Wholesale Book Company and Book$mart, both based in Florence, Alabama. NetCentral, Inc., an Internet development and service company is located in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information, visit the company's website at www.booksamillioninc.com.

                         BOOKS-A-MILLION, INC.
              Unaudited Consolidated Financial Highlights
                 (In thousands, except per share data)

                                         First Quarter Ended
                                       April 29,        May 1,
                                         2000           1999
                                       ---------      ---------
Net sales                               $93,099        $85,127
Earnings before interest,
 taxes and depreciation                   5,443          4,859
Operating income                          1,793          1,517
Net income                              $   471        $   310
                                       ---------      ---------
Earnings per share:
   Basic                                $  0.03        $  0.02
                                       ---------      ---------
   Diluted                              $  0.03        $  0.02
                                       ---------      ---------
Weighted average number
 of shares outstanding:
   Basic                                 18,005         17,946
                                       ---------      ---------
   Diluted                               18,083         18,318
                                       ---------      ---------

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results, performance, achievements of the Company, or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the competitive environment in the book retail industry in general and in the Company's specific market area; inflation; economic conditions in general and in the Company's specific market areas; the number of store openings and closings; the profitability of certain product lines, capital expenditures and future liquidity; liability and other claims asserted against the Company; uncertainties related to the Internet and the Company's Internet initiative. In addition, such forward-looking statements are necessarily dependent upon assumptions, estimates and dates that may be incorrect or imprecise and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Accordingly, any forward-looking statements included herein do not purport to be predictions of future events or circumstances and may not be realized. Given these uncertainties, shareholders and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligations to update any such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.