Books-A-Million, Inc. Reports Holiday Sales Results.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Books-A-Million, Inc. (NASDAQ:BAMM) today announced that sales for the nine-week period ended January 3, 2009, totaled $127.5 million compared with $130.8 million during the same period of fiscal 2008, a decrease of 2.5%. Comparable store sales for the period decreased 5.6% compared with the same period of fiscal 2008. For the first 11 months of fiscal 2009, sales decreased 4.2% to $476.8 million from $497.6 million in the year-earlier period. Comparable store sales for the first 11 months of fiscal 2009 decreased 7.4% compared with the same period of fiscal 2008.

Commenting on the results, Sandra B. Cochran, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Given the challenging retail environment, we were pleased that we could record an improvement in the sales trend we saw during the third quarter. Holiday sales came later than ever this year, reflecting a cautious and price-sensitive consumer. The success of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series was the big story in books this season. Gifts, bargain books and the broader Teen category also performed well."

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 220 stores in 21 states and the District of Columbia. The Company operates under the trade names Books-A-Million, Books & Co. and Bookland. The common stock of Books-A-Million, Inc. is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol BAMM.

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, including the length of time that the U.S. economy remains in the current recession; 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; and 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.