<PAGE>

                                                               Exhibit 10.4(a)

NEITHER THESE SECURITIES NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE
EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR
THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"),
AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE
EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS THEREUNDER AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH
APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS.


                                  ROWECOM INC.

      WARRANT

Warrant No.3      Dated: September 12, 2000


      RoweCom Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby certifies
that, for value received, RAM Capital Resources LLC or its registered assigns
("Holder"), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from
the Company 33,990 shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Common
Stock"), of the Company (each such share, a "Warrant Share" and all such shares,
the "Warrant Shares") at an exercise price equal to $7.2676 per share (as
adjusted from time to time as provided in Section 8, the "Exercise Price"), at
any time and from time to time from and after the date hereof and through and
including September 12, 2005 (the "Expiration Date"), and subject to the
following terms and conditions:

      This Warrant is issued pursuant to the Convertible Debenture Purchase
Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") dated as of September 12, 2000, by and
among the Company and the original Holder.

   REGISTRATION OF WARRANT. The Company shall register this Warrant, upon
records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the "Warrant
Register"), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The
Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute
owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the
Holder, and for all other purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by
notice to the contrary.

               REGISTRATION OF TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES.

               The Company shall register the transfer of any portion of this
Warrant in the Warrant Register, upon surrender of this Warrant, with the Form
of Assignment attached
<PAGE>

hereto duly completed and signed, to the Transfer Agent or to the Company at its
address for notice set forth in Section 12. Upon any such registration or
transfer, a new warrant to purchase Common Stock, in substantially the form of
this Warrant (any such new warrant, a "New Warrant"), evidencing the portion of
this Warrant so transferred shall be issued to the transferee and a New Warrant
evidencing the remaining portion of this Warrant not so transferred, if any,
shall be issued to the transferring Holder. The acceptance of the New Warrant by
the transferee thereof shall be deemed the acceptance of such transferee of all
of the rights and obligations of a holder of a Warrant.

               This Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the
Holder to the office of the Company at its address for notice set forth in
Section 12 for one or more New Warrants, evidencing in the aggregate the right
to purchase the number of Warrant Shares which may then be purchased hereunder.
Any such New Warrant will be dated the date of such exchange (but will still
expire as of the time indicated in Section 3(a) below).

               DURATION AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS.

               This Warrant shall be exercisable by the registered Holder on any
business day before 6:30 P.M., New York City time, at any time and from time to
time on or after the date hereof to and including the Expiration Date. At 6:30
P.M., New York City time on the Expiration Date, the portion of this Warrant not
exercised prior thereto shall be and become void and of no value. Prior to the
Expiration Date, the Company may not call or otherwise redeem this Warrant.

               Upon delivery of a duly completed and signed Form of Election to
Purchase attached hereto (and the grid attached hereto as ANNEX A) duly
completed and signed, to the Company at its address for notice set forth in
Section 12 and upon payment of the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of
Warrant Shares that the Holder intends to purchase hereunder, in the manner
provided hereunder, all as specified by the Holder in the Form of Election to
Purchase, the Company shall promptly (but in no event later than 3 business days
after the Date of Exercise (as defined herein)) issue or cause to be issued and
cause to be delivered to or upon the written order of the Holder and in such
name or names as the Holder may designate, a certificate for the Warrant Shares
issuable upon such exercise, free of restrictive legends except (i) either in
the event that a registration statement covering the resale of the Warrant
Shares and naming the Holder as a selling stockholder thereunder is not then
effective or the Warrant Shares are not freely transferable without volume
restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or (ii) if this Warrant shall have been
issued pursuant to a written agreement between the original Holder and the
Company, as required by such agreement. Any person so designated by the Holder
to receive Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have become holder of record of
such Warrant Shares as of the Date of Exercise of this Warrant. The Company
shall, upon request of the Holder, if available, use its best efforts to deliver
Warrant Shares hereunder electronically through the Depository Trust Corporation
or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions.

               A "Date of Exercise" means the date on which the Company shall
have received (i) the Form of Election to Purchase completed and duly signed,
and (ii) payment of the Exercise Price for the number of Warrant Shares so
indicated by the Holder to be purchased.

               This Warrant shall be exercisable, either in its entirety or,
from time to time, for a portion of the number of Warrant Shares.

               PIGGYBACK REGISTRATION RIGHTS. This Warrant is subject to the
piggyback registration rights granted under the Registration Rights Agreement
and such piggyback registration rights shall continue until all of the Holder's
Warrant Shares have been sold in accordance with an effective registration
statement or upon the Expiration Date. The Company will pay certain expenses in
connection therewith in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement.

               PAYMENT OF TAXES. The Company will pay all documentary stamp
taxes attributable to the issuance of Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this
Warrant; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any
tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the registration
of any certificates for Warrant Shares or Warrants in a name other than that of
the Holder. The Holder shall be responsible for all other tax liability that may
arise as a result of holding or transferring this Warrant or receiving Warrant
Shares upon exercise hereof.

               REPLACEMENT OF WARRANT. If this Warrant is mutilated, lost,
stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange
and substitution for and upon cancellation hereof, or in lieu of and
substitution for this Warrant, a New Warrant, but only upon receipt of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to the Company of such loss, theft or destruction and
indemnity, if requested, satisfactory to it. Applicants for a New Warrant under
such circumstances shall also comply with such other reasonable regulations and
procedures and pay such other reasonable charges as the Company may prescribe.

               RESERVATION OF WARRANT SHARES. The Company covenants that it will
at all times reserve and keep available out of the aggregate of its authorized
but unissued Common Stock, solely for the purpose of enabling it to issue
Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant as herein provided, the number of
Warrant Shares which are then issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of this
entire Warrant, free from preemptive rights or any other actual contingent
purchase rights of persons other than the Holder (taking into account the
adjustments and restrictions of Section 8). The Company covenants that all
Warrant Shares that shall be so issuable and deliverable shall, upon issuance
and the payment of the applicable Exercise Price in accordance with the terms
hereof, be duly and validly authorized, issued and fully paid and nonassessable.

<PAGE>

               CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS. The Exercise Price and number of Warrant
Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant are subject to adjustment from
time to time as set forth in this Section 8.

               If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding,
(i) shall pay a stock dividend (except scheduled dividends paid on outstanding
preferred stock as of the date hereof which contain a stated dividend rate) or
otherwise make a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or
on any other class of capital stock, in each case, which is payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger
number of shares, or (iii) combine outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction
of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding
treasury shares, if any) outstanding before such event and of which the
denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury
shares, if any) outstanding after such event. Any adjustment made pursuant to
this Section shall become effective immediately after the record date for the
determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution
(subject to reversal if such dividend or distribution is not made but not as for
intervening exercises) and shall become effective immediately after the
effective date in the case of a subdivision or combination, and shall apply to
successive subdivisions and combinations.

               In case of any reclassification of the Common Stock or any
compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is converted into
other securities, cash or property, then the Holder shall have the right
thereafter to exercise this Warrant only into the shares of stock and other
securities and property receivable upon or deemed to be held by holders of
Common Stock following such reclassification or share exchange, and the Holder
shall be entitled upon any exercise of this Warrant following such event to
receive such amount of securities or property equal to the amount of Warrant
Shares such Holder would have been entitled to had such Holder exercised this
Warrant immediately prior to such reclassification or share exchange. The terms
of any such reclassification or share exchange shall include such terms so as to
continue to give to the Holder the right to receive the securities or property
set forth in this Section 8(b) upon any exercise following any such
reclassification or share exchange.

               If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding,
shall distribute to all holders of Common Stock (and not to holders of this
Warrant) evidences of its indebtedness or assets or rights or warrants to
subscribe for or purchase any security (excluding those referred to in Sections
8(a), (b) and (d)), then in each such case the Exercise Price shall be
determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the
record date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such
distribution by a fraction of which the denominator shall be the Exercise Price
determined as of the record date mentioned above, and of which the numerator
shall be such Exercise Price on such record date less the then fair market value
at such record date of the portion of such assets or evidence of indebtedness so
distributed applicable to one outstanding share of Common Stock as determined by
the Company's independent certified public accountants that regularly examines
the financial statements of the Company (an "Appraiser").
<PAGE>



               In case of any (1) merger or consolidation of the Company with or
into another Person, or (2) sale by the Company of more than one-half of the
assets of the Company (on a book value basis) in one or a series of related
transactions, the Holder shall have the right thereafter to (A) exercise this
Warrant for the shares of stock and other securities, cash and property
receivable upon or deemed to be held by holders of Common Stock following such
merger, consolidation or sale, and the Holder shall be entitled upon such event
or series of related events to receive such amount of securities, cash and
property as the Common Stock for which this Warrant could have been exercised
immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or sales would have been
entitled or (B) in the case of a merger or consolidation, (x) require the
surviving entity to issue common stock purchase warrants equal to the number
Warrant Shares to which this Warrant then permits, which newly warrant shall be
identical to this Warrant, and (y) simultaneously with the issuance of such
warrant, the Holder of such warrant shall have the right to exercise such
warrant only into shares of stock and other securities, cash and property
receivable upon or deemed to be held by holders of Common Stock following such
merger or consolidation or (C) require the surviving entity from such merger,
acquisition or business combination to pay to the Holder, in cash, the Black
Scholes value of this Warrant, but subject to the variables provided by the
Company at the time of such merger, acquisition or business combination for
"volatility." In the case of clause (B), the exercise price for such new warrant
shall be based upon the amount of securities, cash and property that each share
of Common Stock would receive in such transaction and the Exercise Price of this
Warrant immediately prior to the effectiveness or closing date for such
transaction. The terms of any such merger, sale or consolidation shall include
such terms so as continue to give the Holder the right to receive the
securities, cash and property set forth in this Section upon any exercise
following such event. This provision shall similarly apply to successive such
events.

               For the purposes of this Section 8, the following clauses shall
also be applicable:

               (i) RECORD DATE. In case the Company shall take a record of the
holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a
dividend or other distribution payable in Common Stock or in securities
convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock, or (B) to subscribe for
or purchase Common Stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into shares
of Common Stock, then such record date shall be deemed to be the date of the
issue or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold
upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution
or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase, as the
case may be.

               (ii) TREASURY SHARES. The number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for
the account of the Company, and the disposition of any such shares shall be
considered an issue or sale of Common Stock.

<PAGE>

               All calculations under this Section 8 shall be made to the
nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be.

               Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to Section 8(c)
above, the Holder, at its own expense following receipt of the determination by
the Appraiser, shall have the right to select an additional appraiser (which
shall be a nationally recognized accounting firm), in which case the adjustment
shall be equal to the average of the adjustments recommended by each of the
Appraiser and such appraiser. The Holder shall promptly mail or cause to be
mailed to the Company, a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such
adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such
adjustment. Such adjustment shall become effective immediately after the record
date mentioned above.

               If:

                              (i)   the Company shall declare a dividend (or
                                    any other distribution) on its Common
                                    Stock; or

                              (ii)  the Company shall declare a special
                                    nonrecurring cash dividend on or a
                                    redemption of its Common Stock; or

                              (iii) the Company shall authorize the granting to
                                    all holders of the Common Stock rights or
                                    warrants to subscribe for or purchase any
                                    shares of capital stock of any class or of
                                    any rights; or

                              (iv)  the approval of any stockholders of the
                                    Company shall be required in connection
                                    with any reclassification of the Common
                                    Stock, any consolidation or merger to
                                    which the Company is a party, any sale or
                                    transfer of all or substantially all of
                                    the assets of the Company, or any
                                    compulsory share exchange whereby the
                                    Common Stock is converted into other
                                    securities, cash or property; or

                              (v)   the Company shall authorize the voluntary
                                    dissolution, liquidation or winding up of
                                    the affairs of the Company,

then the Company shall cause to be mailed to each Holder at their last addresses
as they shall appear upon the Warrant Register, at least 20 calendar days prior
to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice
stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such
dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to
be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be
entitled to such
<PAGE>

dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or
(y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale,
transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the
date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be
entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for securities, cash or other
property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale,
transfer, share exchange, dissolution, liquidation or winding up; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the failure to mail such notice or any defect therein or in the
mailing thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required
to be specified in such notice.

                  PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE.  The Holder shall pay the
Exercise Price in one of the following manners:

                        (a)   CASH EXERCISE.  The Holder may deliver
immediately available funds; or
                        (b)   CASHLESS EXERCISE. The Holder may surrender
this Warrant to the Company together with a notice of cashless exercise, in
which event the Company shall issue to the Holder the number of Warrant
Shares determined as follows:

                              X = Y [(A-B)/A]
            where:
                              X = the number of Warrant Shares to be issued
            to the Holder.

                        Y = the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which
                        this Warrant is being exercised.

                        A = the average of the closing sale prices of the Common
                        Stock for the five (5) trading days immediately prior to
                        (but not including) the Date of Exercise.

                        B = the Exercise Price.

For purposes of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, it is intended,
understood and acknowledged that under current SEC rules and interpretations,
the Warrant Shares issued in a cashless exercise transaction shall be deemed to
have been acquired by the Holder, and the holding period for the Warrant Shares
shall be deemed to have been commenced, on the issue date.

             CERTAIN EXERCISE RESTRICTIONS. A Holder may not exercise this
Warrant to the extent such exercise would result in the Holder, together with
any affiliate thereof, beneficially owning (as determined in accordance with
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) in
excess of 9.999% of the then issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock,
including shares issuable upon such exercise and held by such Holder after
application of this Section. Since the Holder will not be obligated to report
to the Company the

<PAGE>

number of shares of Common Stock it may hold at the time of an exercise
hereunder, unless the exercise at issue would result in the issuance of shares
of Common Stock in excess of 9.999% of the then outstanding shares of Common
Stock without regard to any other shares which may be beneficially owned by the
Holder or an affiliate thereof, the Holder shall have the authority and
obligation to determine whether the restriction contained in this Section will
limit any particular exercise hereunder and to the extent that the Holder
determines that the limitation contained in this Section applies, the
determination of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be the
responsibility and obligation of the Holder. If the Holder has delivered a Form
of Election to Purchase for a number of Warrant Shares that, without regard to
any other shares that the Holder or its affiliates may beneficially own, would
result in the issuance in excess of the permitted amount hereunder, the Company
shall notify the Holder of this fact and shall honor the exercise for the
maximum portion of this Warrant permitted to be exercised on such Date of
Exercise in accordance with the periods described herein and, at the option of
the Holder, either keep the portion of the Warrant tendered for exercise in
excess of the permitted amount hereunder for future exercises or return such
excess portion of the Warrant to the Holder. The provisions of this Section may
be waived by a Holder (but only as to itself and not to any other Holder) upon
not less than 61 days prior notice to the Company. Other Holders shall be
unaffected by any such waiver.

               FRACTIONAL SHARES. The Company shall not be required to issue or
cause to be issued fractional Warrant Shares on the exercise of this Warrant.
The number of full Warrant Shares which shall be issuable upon the exercise of
this Warrant shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate number of Warrant
Shares purchasable on exercise of this Warrant so presented. If any fraction of
a Warrant Share would, except for the provisions of this Section, be issuable on
the exercise of this Warrant, the Company shall pay an amount in cash equal to
the Exercise Price multiplied by such fraction.

               NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications or
deliveries hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective
on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication
is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified in this
Section prior to 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a business day, (ii) the
business day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is
delivered via facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified in this
Section later than 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date and earlier than
11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on such date, (iii) the business day following
the date of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service,
or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be
given. The addresses for such communications shall be: (i) if to the Company, to
60 Aberdeen Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, facsimile: (617) 497-6825,
attention Chief Financial Officer, or (ii) if to the Holder, to the Holder at
the address or facsimile number appearing on the Warrant Register or such other
address or facsimile number as the Holder may provide to the Company in
accordance with this Section.

<PAGE>

               WARRANT AGENT. The Company shall serve as warrant agent under
this Warrant. Upon thirty days' notice to the Holder, the Company may appoint a
new warrant agent. Any corporation into which the Company or any new warrant
agent may be merged or any corporation resulting from any consolidation to which
the Company or any new warrant agent shall be a party or any corporation to
which the Company or any new warrant agent transfers substantially all of its
corporate trust or shareholders services business shall be a successor warrant
agent under this Warrant without any further act. Any such successor warrant
agent shall promptly cause notice of its succession as warrant agent to be
mailed (by first class mail, postage prepaid) to the Holder at the Holder's last
address as shown on the Warrant Register.

                  MISCELLANEOUS.

               This Warrant shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Warrant may be
amended only in writing signed by the Company and the Holder and their
successors and assigns.

               Subject to Section 14(a), above, nothing in this Warrant shall be
construed to give to any person or corporation other than the Company and the
Holder any legal or equitable right, remedy or cause under this Warrant. This
Warrant shall inure to the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company and the
Holder.

               The corporate laws of the State of Delaware shall govern all
issues concerning the relative rights of the Company and its stockholders. All
other questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and
interpretation of this Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to
the principles of conflicts of law thereof. The Company and the Holder hereby
irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts
sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of
any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction
contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and
agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not
personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, or that such suit,
action or proceeding is improper. Each of the Company and the Holder hereby
irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being
served in any such suit, action or proceeding by receiving a copy thereof sent
to the Company at the address in effect for notices to it under this instrument
and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of
process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in
any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.

               The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a
part of this Warrant and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the
provisions hereof.

               In case any one or more of the provisions of this Warrant shall
be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of
the remaining terms and

<PAGE>

provisions of this Warrant shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby
and the parties will attempt in good faith to agree upon a valid and enforceable
provision which shall be a commercially reasonable substitute therefor, and upon
so agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Warrant.


                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK,
                            SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]


<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be duly
executed by its authorized officer as of the date first indicated above.


                              ROWECOM INC.


                              By:
                                 ----------------------------------
                                 Name:
                                 Title:



<PAGE>



                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

(To be executed by the Holder to exercise the right to purchase shares of Common
Stock under the foregoing Warrant)

To RoweCom Inc.:

      The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to purchase _____________ shares
of common stock, $.01 par value per share, of RoweCom Inc. (the "Common Stock")
and , if such Holder is not utilizing the cashless exercise provisions set forth
in this Warrant, encloses herewith $________ in cash, certified or official bank
check or checks, which sum represents the aggregate Exercise Price (as defined
in the Warrant) for the number of shares of Common Stock to which this Form of
Election to Purchase relates, together with any applicable taxes payable by the
undersigned pursuant to the Warrant.

      The undersigned requests that certificates for the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon this exercise be issued in the name of

                                          PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
                                          TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER



                         -------------------------------
                         (Please print name and address)




Dated: __________ ,                  Name of Holder:


                                          (Print)

                                          (By:)
                                          (Name:)
                                          (Title:)
                                          (Signature must conform in all
                                          respects to name of holder as
                                          specified on the face of the
                                          Warrant)


<PAGE>



                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

          [To be completed and signed only upon transfer of Warrant]

      FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto ________________________________ the right represented by the within
Warrant to purchase ____________ shares of Common Stock of RoweCom Inc. to which
the within Warrant relates and appoints ________________ attorney to transfer
said right on the books of RoweCom Inc. with full power of substitution in the
premises.

Dated:

---------------, ----


                              ---------------------------------------
                              (Signature must conform in all respects to name
                              of holder as specified on the face of the
                              Warrant)


                              ---------------------------------------
                              Address of Transferee

                              ---------------------------------------

                              ---------------------------------------



In the presence of:


--------------------------




<PAGE>



ANNEX A


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Date          Number of Warrant     Number of Warrant      Number of
                     Shares Available      Shares Exercised        Warrant
                      to be Exercised                              Shares
                                                                 Remaining to
                                                                 be Exercised
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

















-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

                                                               Exhibit 10.4(b)

NEITHER THESE SECURITIES NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE
EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR
THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"),
AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE
EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS THEREUNDER AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH
APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS.


                                  ROWECOM INC.

      WARRANT

Warrant No. 2     Dated: September 12, 2000


      RoweCom Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby certifies
that, for value received, Montrose Investments Ltd. or its registered assigns
("Holder"), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from
the Company 101,968 shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share (the
"Common Stock"), of the Company (each such share, a "Warrant Share" and all such
shares, the "Warrant Shares") at an exercise price equal to $7.2676 per share
(as adjusted from time to time as provided in Section 8, the "Exercise Price"),
at any time and from time to time from and after the date hereof and through and
including September 12, 2005 (the "Expiration Date"), and subject to the
following terms and conditions:

      This Warrant is issued pursuant to the Convertible Debenture Purchase
Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") dated as of September 12, 2000, by and
among the Company and the original Holder.

               REGISTRATION OF WARRANT. The Company shall register this Warrant,
upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the "Warrant
Register"), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The
Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute
owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the
Holder, and for all other purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by
notice to the contrary.


               REGISTRATION OF TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES.

               The Company shall register the transfer of any portion of this
Warrant in the Warrant Register, upon surrender of this Warrant, with the Form
of Assignment attached hereto duly completed and signed, to the Transfer Agent
or to the Company at its address for

<PAGE>

notice set forth in Section 12. Upon any such registration or transfer, a new
warrant to purchase Common Stock, in substantially the form of this Warrant (any
such new warrant, a "New Warrant"), evidencing the portion of this Warrant so
transferred shall be issued to the transferee and a New Warrant evidencing the
remaining portion of this Warrant not so transferred, if any, shall be issued to
the transferring Holder. The acceptance of the New Warrant by the transferee
thereof shall be deemed the acceptance of such transferee of all of the rights
and obligations of a holder of a Warrant.

               This Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the
Holder to the office of the Company at its address for notice set forth in
Section 12 for one or more New Warrants, evidencing in the aggregate the right
to purchase the number of Warrant Shares which may then be purchased hereunder.
Any such New Warrant will be dated the date of such exchange (but will still
expire as of the time indicated in Section 3(a) below).

               DURATION AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS.

               This Warrant shall be exercisable by the registered Holder on any
business day before 6:30 P.M., New York City time, at any time and from time to
time on or after the date hereof to and including the Expiration Date. At 6:30
P.M., New York City time on the Expiration Date, the portion of this Warrant not
exercised prior thereto shall be and become void and of no value. Prior to the
Expiration Date, the Company may not call or otherwise redeem this Warrant.

               Upon delivery of a duly completed and signed Form of Election to
Purchase attached hereto (and the grid attached hereto as ANNEX A) duly
completed and signed, to the Company at its address for notice set forth in
Section 12 and upon payment of the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of
Warrant Shares that the Holder intends to purchase hereunder, in the manner
provided hereunder, all as specified by the Holder in the Form of Election to
Purchase, the Company shall promptly (but in no event later than 3 business days
after the Date of Exercise (as defined herein)) issue or cause to be issued and
cause to be delivered to or upon the written order of the Holder and in such
name or names as the Holder may designate, a certificate for the Warrant Shares
issuable upon such exercise, free of restrictive legends except (i) either in
the event that a registration statement covering the resale of the Warrant
Shares and naming the Holder as a selling stockholder thereunder is not then
effective or the Warrant Shares are not freely transferable without volume
restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or (ii) if this Warrant shall have been
issued pursuant to a written agreement between the original Holder and the
Company, as required by such agreement. Any person so designated by the Holder
to receive Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have become holder of record of
such Warrant Shares as of the Date of Exercise of this Warrant. The Company
shall, upon request of the Holder, if available, use its best efforts to deliver
Warrant Shares hereunder electronically through the Depository Trust Corporation
or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions.

<PAGE>

               A "Date of Exercise" means the date on which the Company shall
have received (i) the Form of Election to Purchase completed and duly signed,
and (ii) payment of the Exercise Price for the number of Warrant Shares so
indicated by the Holder to be purchased.

               This Warrant shall be exercisable, either in its entirety or,
from time to time, for a portion of the number of Warrant Shares.

               PIGGYBACK REGISTRATION RIGHTS. This Warrant is subject to the
piggyback registration rights granted under the Registration Rights Agreement
and such piggyback registration rights shall continue until all of the Holder's
Warrant Shares have been sold in accordance with an effective registration
statement or upon the Expiration Date. The Company will pay certain expenses in
connection therewith in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement.

               PAYMENT OF TAXES. The Company will pay all documentary stamp
taxes attributable to the issuance of Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this
Warrant; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any
tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the registration
of any certificates for Warrant Shares or Warrants in a name other than that of
the Holder. The Holder shall be responsible for all other tax liability that may
arise as a result of holding or transferring this Warrant or receiving Warrant
Shares upon exercise hereof.

               REPLACEMENT OF WARRANT. If this Warrant is mutilated, lost,
stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange
and substitution for and upon cancellation hereof, or in lieu of and
substitution for this Warrant, a New Warrant, but only upon receipt of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to the Company of such loss, theft or destruction and
indemnity, if requested, satisfactory to it. Applicants for a New Warrant under
such circumstances shall also comply with such other reasonable regulations and
procedures and pay such other reasonable charges as the Company may prescribe.

               RESERVATION OF WARRANT SHARES. The Company covenants that it will
at all times reserve and keep available out of the aggregate of its authorized
but unissued Common Stock, solely for the purpose of enabling it to issue
Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant as herein provided, the number of
Warrant Shares which are then issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of this
entire Warrant, free from preemptive rights or any other actual contingent
purchase rights of persons other than the Holder (taking into account the
adjustments and restrictions of Section 8). The Company covenants that all
Warrant Shares that shall be so issuable and deliverable shall, upon issuance
and the payment of the applicable Exercise Price in accordance with the terms
hereof, be duly and validly authorized, issued and fully paid and nonassessable.

               CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS. The Exercise Price and number of Warrant
Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant are subject to adjustment from
time to time as set forth in this Section 8.
<PAGE>

               If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding,
(i) shall pay a stock dividend (except scheduled dividends paid on outstanding
preferred stock as of the date hereof which contain a stated dividend rate) or
otherwise make a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or
on any other class of capital stock, in each case, which is payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger
number of shares, or (iii) combine outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction
of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding
treasury shares, if any) outstanding before such event and of which the
denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury
shares, if any) outstanding after such event. Any adjustment made pursuant to
this Section shall become effective immediately after the record date for the
determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution
(subject to reversal if such dividend or distribution is not made but not as for
intervening exercises) and shall become effective immediately after the
effective date in the case of a subdivision or combination, and shall apply to
successive subdivisions and combinations.

               In case of any reclassification of the Common Stock or any
compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is converted into
other securities, cash or property, then the Holder shall have the right
thereafter to exercise this Warrant only into the shares of stock and other
securities and property receivable upon or deemed to be held by holders of
Common Stock following such reclassification or share exchange, and the Holder
shall be entitled upon any exercise of this Warrant following such event to
receive such amount of securities or property equal to the amount of Warrant
Shares such Holder would have been entitled to had such Holder exercised this
Warrant immediately prior to such reclassification or share exchange. The terms
of any such reclassification or share exchange shall include such terms so as to
continue to give to the Holder the right to receive the securities or property
set forth in this Section 8(b) upon any exercise following any such
reclassification or share exchange.

               If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding,
shall distribute to all holders of Common Stock (and not to holders of this
Warrant) evidences of its indebtedness or assets or rights or warrants to
subscribe for or purchase any security (excluding those referred to in Sections
8(a), (b) and (d)), then in each such case the Exercise Price shall be
determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the
record date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such
distribution by a fraction of which the denominator shall be the Exercise Price
determined as of the record date mentioned above, and of which the numerator
shall be such Exercise Price on such record date less the then fair market value
at such record date of the portion of such assets or evidence of indebtedness so
distributed applicable to one outstanding share of Common Stock as determined by
the Company's independent certified public accountants that regularly examines
the financial statements of the Company (an "Appraiser").

               If the Company or any subsidiary thereof at any time while this
Warrant is outstanding, shall issue shares of Common Stock or rights, warrants,
options or other securities

<PAGE>

or debt that are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock
("COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENTS"), at or entitling any Person to acquire shares of
Common Stock at a price per share less than the Exercise Price (if the holder of
the Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalent so issued shall at any time, whether
by operation of purchase price adjustments, reset provisions, floating
conversion, exercise or exchange prices or otherwise, or due to warrants,
options or rights issued in connection with such issuance, be entitled to
receive shares of Common Stock at a price less than the Exercise Price, such
issuance shall be deemed to have occurred for less than the Exercise Price),
then, at the sole option of the Holder, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to
mirror the conversion, exchange or purchase price for such Common Stock
Equivalents (including any reset provisions thereof) for such exercises as shall
be indicated by the Holder, PROVIDED, that for purposes hereof, all shares of
Common Stock that are issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange of Common
Stock Equivalents shall be deemed outstanding immediately after the issuance of
such Common Stock Equivalents. Such adjustment shall be made whenever such
shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents are issued. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if the aggregate number of all shares of Common Stock and shares
of Common Stock issuable in respect of (a) issuances of Common Stock Equivalents
is less (not including any issuances referenced in the penultimate sentence of
this sub-section) than 100,000 shares, then the Exercise Price shall not be
adjusted as otherwise contemplated by this Section, but shall be reduced to the
price (calculated to the nearest cent) determined by multiplying the Exercise
Price in effect immediately prior to each such issuance of Common Stock or
Common Stock Equivalents by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the sum
of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to
such issuance, and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate
consideration received (or to be received, assuming exercise, conversion or
resets in full of such Common Stock Equivalents on the date of such adjustment)
for the issuance of such additional shares of Common Stock would purchase at the
Exercise Price, and the denominator of which shall be the sum of the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the issuance of such
additional shares. No adjustment under this Section shall be made as a result of
(i) issuances of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents to the extent
disclosed in Schedule 2.1(c) to the Purchase Agreement, (ii) issuances and
exercises of options to purchase shares of Common Stock issued for compensatory
purposes pursuant to any of the Company's stock option or stock purchase plans,
or (iii) conversions of the Debentures and or exercises under the Class A
Warrants (as defined in the Purchase Agreement). The mere creation of rights
pursuant to a shareholder rights plan or any similar plan or arrangement which
will attach to each share of Common Stock (including shares of Common Stock
issuable to the Holder upon exercise of this Warrant) will not result in an
adjustment under this Section 8(d), unless the Holder is not entitled to receive
such rights upon exercise of this Warrant or such rights detach from the shares
of Common Stock to which they originally attached, then the Holder shall be
entitled to anti-dilution adjustments under this provision.

               In case of any (1) merger or consolidation of the Company with or
into another Person, or (2) sale by the Company of more than one-half of the
assets of the Company (on a book value basis) in one or a series of related
transactions, the Holder shall have the right thereafter to (A) exercise this
Warrant for the shares of stock and other securities, cash and

<PAGE>

property receivable upon or deemed to be held by holders of Common Stock
following such merger, consolidation or sale, and the Holder shall be entitled
upon such event or series of related events to receive such amount of
securities, cash and property as the Common Stock for which this Warrant could
have been exercised immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or sales
would have been entitled or (B) in the case of a merger or consolidation, (x)
require the surviving entity to issue common stock purchase warrants equal to
the number Warrant Shares to which this Warrant then permits, which newly
warrant shall be identical to this Warrant, and (y) simultaneously with the
issuance of such warrant, the Holder of such warrant shall have the right to
exercise such warrant only into shares of stock and other securities, cash and
property receivable upon or deemed to be held by holders of Common Stock
following such merger or consolidation or (C) require the surviving entity from
such merger, acquisition or business combination to pay to the Holder, in cash,
the Black Scholes value of this Warrant, but subject to the variables provided
by the Company at the time of such merger, acquisition or business combination
for "volatility." In the case of clause (B), the exercise price for such new
warrant shall be based upon the amount of securities, cash and property that
each share of Common Stock would receive in such transaction and the Exercise
Price of this Warrant immediately prior to the effectiveness or closing date for
such transaction. The terms of any such merger, sale or consolidation shall
include such terms so as continue to give the Holder the right to receive the
securities, cash and property set forth in this Section upon any exercise
following such event. This provision shall similarly apply to successive such
events.

               For the purposes of this Section 8, the following clauses shall
also be applicable:

                    (i) RECORD DATE. In case the Company shall take a record of
the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive
a dividend or other distribution payable in Common Stock or in securities
convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock, or (B) to subscribe for
or purchase Common Stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into shares
of Common Stock, then such record date shall be deemed to be the date of the
issue or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold
upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution
or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase, as the
case may be.

                    (ii) TREASURY SHARES. The number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for
the account of the Company, and the disposition of any such shares shall be
considered an issue or sale of Common Stock.

               All calculations under this Section 8 shall be made to the
nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be.

               Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to Section 8(c)
above, the Holder, at its own expense following receipt of the determination by
the Appraiser, shall have the right to select an additional appraiser (which
shall be a nationally recognized accounting

<PAGE>

firm), in which case the adjustment shall be equal to the average of the
adjustments recommended by each of the Appraiser and such appraiser. The Holder
shall promptly mail or cause to be mailed to the Company, a notice setting forth
the Exercise Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of
the facts requiring such adjustment. Such adjustment shall become effective
immediately after the record date mentioned above.

               If:

                              (i)   the Company shall declare a dividend (or
                                    any other distribution) on its Common
                                    Stock; or

                              (ii)  the Company shall declare a special
                                    nonrecurring cash dividend on or a
                                    redemption of its Common Stock; or

                              (iii) the Company shall authorize the granting to
                                    all holders of the Common Stock rights or
                                    warrants to subscribe for or purchase any
                                    shares of capital stock of any class or of
                                    any rights; or

                              (iv)  the approval of any stockholders of the
                                    Company shall be required in connection
                                    with any reclassification of the Common
                                    Stock, any consolidation or merger to
                                    which the Company is a party, any sale or
                                    transfer of all or substantially all of
                                    the assets of the Company, or any
                                    compulsory share exchange whereby the
                                    Common Stock is converted into other
                                    securities, cash or property; or

                              (v)   the Company shall authorize the voluntary
                                    dissolution, liquidation or winding up of
                                    the affairs of the Company,

then the Company shall cause to be mailed to each Holder at their last addresses
as they shall appear upon the Warrant Register, at least 20 calendar days prior
to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice
stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such
dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to
be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be
entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to
be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation,
merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or
close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of
record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for
securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, share exchange, dissolution, liquidation
or winding up; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the failure to mail such

<PAGE>

notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall not affect the
validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice.

                  PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE.  The Holder shall pay the
Exercise Price in one of the following manners:

                        (a)   CASH EXERCISE.  The Holder may deliver
immediately available funds; or
                        (b)   CASHLESS EXERCISE. The Holder may surrender
this Warrant to the Company together with a notice of cashless exercise, in
which event the Company shall issue to the Holder the number of Warrant
Shares determined as follows:

                              X = Y [(A-B)/A]
            where:
                              X = the number of Warrant Shares to be issued
to the Holder.

                        Y = the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which
                        this Warrant is being exercised.

                        A = the average of the closing sale prices of the Common
                        Stock for the five (5) trading days immediately prior to
                        (but not including) the Date of Exercise.

                        B = the Exercise Price.

For purposes of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, it is intended,
understood and acknowledged that under current SEC rules and interpretations,
the Warrant Shares issued in a cashless exercise transaction shall be deemed to
have been acquired by the Holder, and the holding period for the Warrant Shares
shall be deemed to have been commenced, on the issue date.

               CERTAIN EXERCISE RESTRICTIONS. (a) A Holder may not exercise this
Warrant to the extent such exercise would result in the Holder, together with
any affiliate thereof, beneficially owning (as determined in accordance with
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) in
excess of 9.999% of the then issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock,
including shares issuable upon such exercise and held by such Holder after
application of this Section. Since the Holder will not be obligated to report to
the Company the number of shares of Common Stock it may hold at the time of an
exercise hereunder, unless the exercise at issue would result in the issuance of
shares of Common Stock in excess of 9.999% of the then outstanding shares of
Common Stock without regard to any other shares which may be beneficially owned
by the Holder or an affiliate thereof, the Holder shall have the authority and
obligation to determine whether the restriction contained in this Section will
limit any particular exercise hereunder and to the extent that the Holder
determines that the limitation contained in

<PAGE>

this Section applies, the determination of which portion of this Warrant is
exercisable shall be the responsibility and obligation of the Holder. If the
Holder has delivered a Form of Election to Purchase for a number of Warrant
Shares that, without regard to any other shares that the Holder or its
affiliates may beneficially own, would result in the issuance in excess of the
permitted amount hereunder, the Company shall notify the Holder of this fact and
shall honor the exercise for the maximum portion of this Warrant permitted to be
exercised on such Date of Exercise in accordance with the periods described
herein and, at the option of the Holder, either keep the portion of the Warrant
tendered for exercise in excess of the permitted amount hereunder for future
exercises or return such excess portion of the Warrant to the Holder. The
provisions of this Section may be waived by a Holder (but only as to itself and
not to any other Holder) upon not less than 61 days prior notice to the Company.
Other Holders shall be unaffected by any such waiver.

               (b) If the Company Stock is then listed for trading on the Nasdaq
National Market ("NASDAQ") or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market and the Company has not
obtained the Shareholder Approval (as defined below), then the Company may not
issue in excess of 19.999% of the number of shares of Common Stock (less the
number of shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Debentures and
exercise of the Class A Warrants at a price per share below the market price of
the Common Stock) outstanding on the Closing Date upon exercise of this Warrant
at a price per share that is less than the closing price of the Common Stock on
the Trading Day (as defined in EXHIBIT A) immediately preceding the Closing Date
(such number of shares, the "Issuable Maximum"). Each Holder shall be entitled
to a portion of the Issuable Maximum equal to the quotient obtained by dividing
(x) the number of shares of Common Stock issued and sold to the original Holder
on the Closing Date by (y) the number of shares of Common Stock issued and sold
by the Company on the Closing Date. If any Holder shall no longer hold Warrants
then such Holder's remaining portion of the Issuable Maximum shall be allocated
pro-rata among the remaining Holders. If on any Date of Exercise (A) the Company
Stock is listed for trading on the NASDAQ or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, (B) the
Exercise Price then in effect is such that the aggregate number of shares of
Common Stock that would then be issuable upon exercise in full of this Warrant,
together with any shares of Common Stock previously issued upon exercise of this
Warrant, would equal or exceed the Issuable Maximum, and (C) the Company shall
not have previously obtained the vote of shareholders (the "Shareholder
Approval"), if any, as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations
of the Nasdaq Stock Market (or any successor entity) applicable to approve the
issuance of shares of Common Stock in excess of the Issuable Maximum pursuant to
the terms hereof, then the Company shall issue to the Holder requesting an
exercise of Warrants, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to such Holder's
pro-rata portion (which shall be calculated pursuant to the terms hereof)of the
Issuable Maximum and, with respect to the shares whose issuance would result in
an issuance of shares of Common Stock in excess of such Holder's pro-rata
portion (which shall be calculated pursuant to the terms hereof) of the Issuable
Maximum, (the "Excess Warrant Shares"), the exercising Holder shall have the
option to require the Company to either (1) use its best efforts to obtain the
Shareholder Approval applicable to such issuance as soon as possible, but in any
event no later than the 60th day after such request or (2) pay to the Holder,
within one (1) Trading Day from the request therefor, an amount in cash equal to
the product of

<PAGE>

(x) the Excess Warrant Shares multiplied by (y) the closing sales price of the
Common Stock on (a) 60th day or (b) the Date of Exercise giving rise to the
obligation to seek Shareholder Approval, whichever is greater (the "Cash
Payment"). If the exercising Holder shall have elected to require the Company to
seek the Shareholder Approval pursuant to clause (1) of the immediately
preceding sentence and the Company does not obtain the Shareholder Approval on
or prior to the 60th day after such request, then, within three Trading Days
following the request thereof by the exercising Holder, the Company shall pay
the Cash Payment to the Holder. If the Company fails to pay the Cash Payment in
full pursuant to this Section within seven days after the date payable, the
Company will pay interest on such amount at a rate of 18% per annum, or such
lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law, to the
exercising Holder, accruing daily from the date payable until such amount, plus
all such interest thereon, is paid in full. The Company and the Holder
understand and agree that shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of this
Warrant and then held by the Holder or an affiliate thereof may not cast votes
or be deemed outstanding for purposes of any vote to obtain the Shareholder
Approval. For purposes of this Section 10(b), "Holder" means a holder of any
Closing Warrants issued pursuant to (and as defined in) the Purchase Agreement,
and "Holders" means more than one Holder.

               FRACTIONAL SHARES. The Company shall not be required to issue or
cause to be issued fractional Warrant Shares on the exercise of this Warrant.
The number of full Warrant Shares which shall be issuable upon the exercise of
this Warrant shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate number of Warrant
Shares purchasable on exercise of this Warrant so presented. If any fraction of
a Warrant Share would, except for the provisions of this Section, be issuable on
the exercise of this Warrant, the Company shall pay an amount in cash equal to
the Exercise Price multiplied by such fraction.

               NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications or
deliveries hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective
on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication
is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified in this
Section prior to 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a business day, (ii) the
business day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is
delivered via facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified in this
Section later than 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date and earlier than
11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on such date, (iii) the business day following
the date of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service,
or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be
given. The addresses for such communications shall be: (i) if to the Company, to
60 Aberdeen Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, facsimile: (617) 497-6825,
attention Chief Financial Officer, or (ii) if to the Holder, to the Holder at
the address or facsimile number appearing on the Warrant Register or such other
address or facsimile number as the Holder may provide to the Company in
accordance with this Section.

<PAGE>

               WARRANT AGENT. The Company shall serve as warrant agent under
this Warrant. Upon thirty days' notice to the Holder, the Company may appoint a
new warrant agent. Any corporation into which the Company or any new warrant
agent may be merged or any corporation resulting from any consolidation to which
the Company or any new warrant agent shall be a party or any corporation to
which the Company or any new warrant agent transfers substantially all of its
corporate trust or shareholders services business shall be a successor warrant
agent under this Warrant without any further act. Any such successor warrant
agent shall promptly cause notice of its succession as warrant agent to be
mailed (by first class mail, postage prepaid) to the Holder at the Holder's last
address as shown on the Warrant Register.

            MISCELLANEOUS.

               This Warrant shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Warrant may be
amended only in writing signed by the Company and the Holder and their
successors and assigns.

               Subject to Section 14(a), above, nothing in this Warrant shall be
construed to give to any person or corporation other than the Company and the
Holder any legal or equitable right, remedy or cause under this Warrant. This
Warrant shall inure to the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company and the
Holder.

               The corporate laws of the State of Delaware shall govern all
issues concerning the relative rights of the Company and its stockholders. All
other questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and
interpretation of this Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to
the principles of conflicts of law thereof. The Company and the Holder hereby
irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts
sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of
any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction
contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and
agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not
personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, or that such suit,
action or proceeding is improper. Each of the Company and the Holder hereby
irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being
served in any such suit, action or proceeding by receiving a copy thereof sent
to the Company at the address in effect for notices to it under this instrument
and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of
process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in
any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.

               The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a
part of this Warrant and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the
provisions hereof.

               In case any one or more of the provisions of this Warrant shall
be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of
the remaining terms and

<PAGE>

provisions of this Warrant shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby
and the parties will attempt in good faith to agree upon a valid and enforceable
provision which shall be a commercially reasonable substitute therefor, and upon
so agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Warrant.


                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK,
                            SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]


<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be duly
executed by its authorized officer as of the date first indicated above.


                              ROWECOM INC.


                              By:
                                 -------------------------------------
                                 Name:
                                 Title:



<PAGE>


                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

(To be executed by the Holder to exercise the right to purchase shares of Common
Stock under the foregoing Warrant)

To RoweCom Inc.:

      The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to purchase _____________ shares
of common stock, $.01 par value per share, of RoweCom Inc. (the "Common Stock")
and , if such Holder is not utilizing the cashless exercise provisions set forth
in this Warrant, encloses herewith $________ in cash, certified or official bank
check or checks, which sum represents the aggregate Exercise Price (as defined
in the Warrant) for the number of shares of Common Stock to which this Form of
Election to Purchase relates, together with any applicable taxes payable by the
undersigned pursuant to the Warrant.

      The undersigned requests that certificates for the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon this exercise be issued in the name of

                                          PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
                                          TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER



                      --------------------------------------
                         (Please print name and address)




Dated: ___________,                   Name of Holder:


                                          (Print)

                                          (By:)
                                          (Name:)
                                          (Title:)
                                          (Signature must conform in all
                                          respects to name of holder as
                                          specified on the face of the
                                          Warrant)


<PAGE>

                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

          [To be completed and signed only upon transfer of Warrant]

      FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto ________________________________ the right represented by the within
Warrant to purchase ____________ shares of Common Stock of RoweCom Inc. to which
the within Warrant relates and appoints ________________ attorney to transfer
said right on the books of RoweCom Inc. with full power of substitution in the
premises.

Dated:

---------------, ----


                              ---------------------------------------
                              (Signature must conform in all respects to name
                              of holder as specified on the face of the
                              Warrant)


                              ---------------------------------------
                              Address of Transferee

                              ---------------------------------------

                              ---------------------------------------



In the presence of:


--------------------------

<PAGE>



ANNEX A


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       Date          Number of Warrant     Number of Warrant      Number of
                     Shares Available      Shares Exercised        Warrant
                      to be Exercised                               Shares
                                                                 Remaining to
                                                                 be Exercised
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