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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000891919-08-000211.txt : 20081222
<SEC-HEADER>0000891919-08-000211.hdr.sgml : 20081222
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081222165056
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000891919-08-000211
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081218
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081222
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081222

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOOKS A MILLION INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000891919
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-MISCELLANEOUS SHOPPING GOODS STORES [5940]
		IRS NUMBER:				630798460
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		402 INDUSTRIAL LN
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35211
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2059423737

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		402 INDUSTRIAL LANE
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35211

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COCHRAN SANDRA B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001056610
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-MISCELLANEOUS SHOPPING GOODS STORES [5940]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20664
		FILM NUMBER:		081264346

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		402 INDUSTRIAL LN
		STREET 2:		C/O BOOKS A MILLION
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35211
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2059423737

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		402 INDUSTRIAL LANE
		STREET 2:		C/O BOOKS A MILLION
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35211
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>sandracochran121808_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000891919</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOOKS A MILLION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BAMM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001056610</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COCHRAN SANDRA B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>402 INDUSTRIAL LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>C/O BOOKS A MILLION</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BIRMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35211</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle>PRESIDENT &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText>SEE REMARKS BELOW</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>322736</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The purchase reported in this Form 4 was effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on
 December 3, 2008, which plan became effective on December 7, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 213,716 unvested shares of restricted stock that vest as follows:  January 31, 2009 (40,711 shares), January 31,
 2010 (23,005 shares), January 31, 2011 (120,000 shares), and January 31, 2012 (30,000 shares).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>The reporting person may be deemed to be a member of a &quot;group&quot; (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities
 Exchange Act ) which owns more than 10% of the Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the &quot;Common Stock&quot;), of the Issuer.
 The reporting person does not have (i) any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in or (ii) the power to vote or dispose of,
 or the power to direct the vote or disposition of, any Common Stock of the Issuer held by any other person, including,
 without limitation, any other person who may be deemed to be a member of such group.  Accordingly, the reporting person
 disclaims beneficial ownership of any securities of the Issuer held by any other person, including, without limitation, any
 other person who may be deemed to be a member of such group, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the
 reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for the purposes of Section 16 under the Securities Exchange Act
 or otherwise.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>MARTIN R. ABROMS, BY POWER OF ATTORNEY</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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