Exhibit 10.1

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


THIS AGREEMENT made as of the 17th day of April, 1997, (hereinafter called the
"Commencement Date"), by and between DATA RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC., a Missouri
corporation (hereinafter called the "Employer") and Michael J. Mellinger, an
individual presently residing at 910 Kent Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63124 
(hereinafter called the "Employee").

WHEREAS, Employee is presently the President and the Chief Executive Officer of
Employer and has made significant contributions to Employer during the term of 
his employment; and

WHEREAS, Employer wishes to assure itself both of the continued availability of
the services of Employee in the event of a "Change of Control," (as defined in
Schedule I) and to assure itself of the availability of Employee's services in
the absence of a Change of Control; and

WHEREAS,  Employee wishes to continue to be employed subsequent to any Change
of Control and is agreeable to  the terms of continued employment set forth 
herein; and

WHEREAS, the parties believe that it is to their mutual benefit to enter into 
this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises 
hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto  mutually agree as follows:

FIRST:  EMPLOYMENT OF THE EMPLOYEE.  Employer, subject to the terms and 
provisions and for the term hereinafter set forth, hereby employs Employee 
to perform the duties of  the President and the Chief Executive Officer of 
Employer. Employer hereby represents and warrants to Employee that the Board 
of Directors of Employer (hereinafter called the "Board"), at a meeting duly  
held, has authorized and approved this Agreement. Employee hereby agrees to 
perform the duties described herein faithfully and to the best of his ability.

SECOND:  DUTIES.  The Employee, as the President and the Chief Executive 
officer of Employer, shall perform  those  duties and responsibilities 
required by law and as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation and 
Bylaws of Employer and as may from time to time be assigned to him by the 
Board in its reasonable discretion, and in such capacity agrees that during 
the term of his employment hereunder, he will devote substantially all of 
his working time and attention to the business and affairs of Employer.


THIRD:  SALARY AND BENEFITS.  

(a) 

Employer will pay Employee for. his services during the term of his employment
hereunder an annual base rate of compensation (hereinafter called. the "Base
Compensation") of  Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000.00), which Base
Compensation shall be payable at such intervals as the  Employer pays its 
other senior executive employees, but in any event, not less frequently than
monthly.  Each fiscal year (commencing with fiscal year 1998), the 
Compensation Committee of the Board  (the "Compensation Committee") will set 
the Employee's Base Compensation for that fiscal year, taking into account 
the performance of the Employee, the total compensation paid to the chief 
executive officers of similar companies of comparable size to that of the 
Employer and such other factors deemed relevant by the Board, but in no event 
shall such Base Compensation for any annual period be less than the Base 
Compensation set for the immediately preceding annual period.  

(b) 

Employer will also pay Employee a bonus for each fiscal year during the term 
hereof, which will be determined on the basis of a formula (the "Bonus 
Formula"), as follows: for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, the bonus
will be in the amount of 10% of the increase in Employer's income before income
taxes and bonuses for such fiscal year compared to the prior fiscal year, 
determined by the Company's independent auditors in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, and payable within ninety
(90)  days of the end of such fiscal year. For the fiscal year ending September
30, 1998, and for each fiscal year thereafter, Employer will pay Employee a 
bonus to be determined on the basis of a Bonus Formula, to be determined for 
such fiscal year by the Compensation Committee.   

(c) 

Employer agrees to reimburse Employee for all reasonable business expenses 
incurred by Employee in the performance of his duties hereunder for Employer,
which expenses shall be substantiated in accordance with the procedures of
Employer.  

(d)  

Employer shall provide Employee, at Employer's expense, with health, accident,
long-term disability, major medical and  such other insurance coverages as are
generally available to the senior executive officers of the Employer.   

(e) 

During each fiscal year of the Corporation,  Employee shall be entitled to six 
(6) weeks of paid vacation.   

(f) 

Employee shall also be entitled to participate in all other insurance and 
retirement plans, retirement benefits, death benefits, salary continuation 
benefits, stock option plans and other fringe benefits and other plans 
generally available for the senior executive officers of Employer, but in 
no event shall  such fringe benefits be less than the benefits provided to 
Employee for the immediately preceding annual period. 

(g)  

Employer shall, at Employer's expense, furnish  such  other executive 
prerequisites at least equal in value to those furnished to the senior 
executive officers of the Employer. 

(h) 

Employer shall allow Employee use of the corporate aircraft for person use
for 100 flight hours each fiscal year, such use to be reported as required 
by Internal Revenue Service regulations. 

(i)  

Employer shall provide Employee with adequate Internet and telephone service 
and appropriate office furniture and computing equipment to allow the conduct 
of Employer's business at both of Employee's homes.  

(j)  

To the extent not otherwise provided by the Employer in subparagraph (f) of 
this paragraph THIRD, Employer  shall, at Employer's sole cost and expense, 
maintain in full force and effect an insurance policy or policies providing 
term life insurance coverage on the life of Employee in an aggregate amount 
of not less than two times Employee's Base Compensation, for the benefit of 
the beneficiaries named by Employee, or such beneficiaries as may be otherwise
designated from time to time by Employee. Employer shall maintain such insurance
coverage in full force and effect throughout the Employee's employment with 
Employer, and for a period of sixty days following termination of said 
employment, (or such shorter period as provided in the policy, if the insurance
coverage is provided under a group plan). The failure to maintain such term 
insurance because of the noninsurability of Employee shall not constitute a 
default by Employer hereunder. Subject to the provisions of the policy 
providing for the insurance required by this subparagraph (h), if such 
insurance is provided through individual policies, Employer does hereby offer
to sell and assign to Employee, and Employee is hereby granted an option to 
purchase, all of Employer's right, title and interest in and to such policy or
policies with respect to insurance coverage on the life of Employee, which offer
(option) shall  be  accepted (exercised), if at all, by Employee at any time 
from the date upon which Employee's termination of his employment hereunder
shall occur (regardless of the reason for such termination) through the close
of business on the sixtieth (60th) day following such termination of his
employment. The purchase price to be paid by Employee to Employer for the
Employer's right, title and interest in and to the subject policy (or policies)
shall be an amount equal to a fraction of the total prepaid premiums, if any,
paid by Employer thereon, the numerator of which  shall be the remaining term
of the subject policy or policies (expressed in days) and the denominator of
which shall be the total original term of the subject policy or policies 
(expressed in days). 

FOURTH:   TERM OF EMPLOYMENT.  The initial term of the Employee's employment 
under this Agreement (hereinafter called the "Initial Term") shall be for a 
period commencing on the Commencement Date and continuing until September 30,
2002, unless sooner terminated as hereinafter provided.  Following the Initial
Term, this Agreement shall automatically continue in effect for an additional 
term of five (5) years (hereinafter called the "Additional Term") unless either
party, by written  notice delivered to the other not less than ninety (90) days
prior to the termination of the Initial Term, indicates the intention not to 
enter into the Additional Term. At the termination of the Initial Term or the
Additional Term, as the case may be, the obligation of Employer to pay further
compensation or expenses to Employee shall cease, provided, however, that any
obligations hereunder of either party to the other party at the time of such
termination shall not be affected thereby.

FIFTH:  TERMINATION.  Employer shall have the right to terminate this Agreement
if any of the following events shall occur during the Initial or Additional 
Term hereof: (a) Employee's willful failure or refusal to render services as 
required hereunder after written notice from Employer and a reasonable 
opportunity on the part of Employee to correct any deficiency in performance 
specified in such written  notice from Employer to the satisfaction of the 
Board, or as otherwise required by applicable law,  (b) Acts of fraud, 
dishonesty, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit and the 
conviction of a felony committed in connection with the business of Employer 
shall be grounds for termination of this Agreement upon at least two (2) 
days' prior written notice but without the opportunity to cure;  or   (c) 
The permanent disability of Employee, which, for the  purposes hereof, shall 
be deemed to have occurred upon the commencement of benefits under any policy
maintained by the Company providing for long-term disability coverage; or   
(d)  The death of Employee.   Except as expressly set forth herein, the 
obligation of Employer to pay further compensation or expenses of Employee 
shall cease as of the day on which termination under this Article FIFTH 
shall occur.

SIXTH:  CHANGE OF CONTROL.  Employer and Employee agree that the following 
provisions shall immediately and automatically become operational upon the 
occurrence of a Change of Control  (as described in Schedule I hereof), 
without further action on the part of either Employer or Employee:   (a)  
In the event of the involuntary termination or significant reduction in the
position, duties or responsibilities of Employee, for reasons other than 
those defined in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d)  of  Article  FIFTH  hereof
(herein collectively referred to as a "Termination"),  Employee shall be 
entitled to an additional bonus, payable within sixty (60) days of the 
occurrence of  the Termination, equal to a percentage of the greater of the 
Base Compensation in effect as of the date of such Change of Control or such
Termination as follows:   (i) one hundred and fifty percent (150%) if the 
Termination occurs within the first year following a Change of Control; (ii)
one hundred percent (100%)  if  the Termination occurs within the second year
following a Change of Control; and (iii) fifty percent (50%) if the Termination
occurs within the third year following a Change of Control.    (b)  All 
options to purchase shares of the common stock of Employer held by Employee 
pursuant to a stock option plan of Employer  (the "Stock Options") shall be 
fully vested and exercisable.    (c)  At the sole discretion of the Board, 
Employee may be awarded a bonus (the "Special Executive Bonus") on a "grossed 
up" basis (to take into account the taxability for federal income purposes 
of the Special Executive Bonus to the Employee) equal to the amount of federal
income tax payable by the Employee arising from the vesting of Employee's 
interests in the Stock Options, assuming the maximum statutory rate of federal
income tax then applicable to an individual taxpayer

SEVENTH: INDEMNIFICATION.  Employer shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless 
Employee for any and all acts or decisions made by Employee, in good faith, in
connection with the performance by Employee of services for Employer, which
indemnification shall be to the fullest  extent  permitted  by law.  Employer 
shall use its best efforts to insure its obligations under this paragraph 
SEVENTH which insurance coverage shall expressly include all expenses 
(including, without limitation, attorneys' fees)  actually  and  necessarily 
incurred by or on behalf of the Employee in connection  with  the defense of 
any suit or proceeding (including appeals  therefrom), which coverage shall, 
to the fullest extent  permitted  by  law, include the cost of out-of-court
settlements.

EIGHTH:  GOVERNING LAW.   This Agreement is executed and delivered in the 
State of Missouri and shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and
shall be governed by, the laws of such State.

NINTH:  NOTICE.  All notices, requests, consents and other communications 
required or permitted under this  Agreement  shall be in writing and shall 
be deemed sufficient if delivered  by certified or registered mail, return 
receipt requested, postage paid, in the case of Employee to his last known 
address on file with Employer, and, in the case of Employer, to its principal 
office. Such notice shall be effective upon deposit in the United States mail 
or actual delivery, as the case may be.

TENTH:  SUMS DUE TO EMPLOYEE.  If any amount payable to Employee or vesting
of Stock Options pursuant to Article  SIXTH, or portion thereof, constitutes a
"parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") (determined without regard to this Article
TENTH), then such payment shall be reduced and such Stock Options shall not vest
pursuant to Article SIXTH, as determined by Employer in its sole discretion,
to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to prevent any such  payment or
vesting of Stock Options, or portion thereof, from constituting a "parachute 
payment"; provided, however, 
that any such reduction in payments otherwise payable
pursuant to Article SIXTH or nonvesting of Stock Options that would otherwise
vest pursuant to Article SIXTH shall occur if and only if, after taking into 
account the twenty percent (20%) tax set  forth  in  Section  4999 of the Code,
such reduction and/or nonvesting causes Employee to realize a greater after-tax
benefit than Employee would realize if such reduction and/or nonvesting pursuant
to this Article TENTH had not occurred. Employee shall be entitled to "rollover"
any sums payable hereunder into individual retirement accounts or similar 
entities to the fullest extent provided  by law.

ELEVENTH:    SEVERABILITY  AND  INTERPRETATION.    Whenever possible, each 
provision of this Agreement and any portion thereof shall be interpreted in 
such a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, rules and
regulations. If any covenant or other provision of this Agreement (or portion
thereof) is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced, by reason of any
rule of law rule, regulation, administrative order, judicial decision or public
policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall, 
nevertheless, remain in full force and effect, and no covenant or provision 
shall be deemed dependent upon any other covenant or provision (or portion)
unless so expressed herein. The parties hereto desire and consent that the 
court or other body making such determination shall, to the extent necessary 
to avoid any unenforceability, so reform such covenant, term, condition or 
other provision or portion of this Agreement to the minimum extent necessary so
as to render the same enforceable in accordance with the intent herein 
expressed.

TWELFTH:   ENTIRE AGREEMENT.   This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement 
between the parties relative to the employment by Employer of Employee and any
and all prior representations, agreements, correspondence or memoranda with 
respect thereto are superseded hereby. No promises, covenants or 
representations of any character or nature other than those expressly stated
herein have been made to induce either party to enter into this Agreement.
This Agreement shall not be modified, waived or discharged except in a writing
duly signed by each of the parties or their permitted assignees, and shall 
be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the successors of the parties 
hereto.


THIRTEENTH:  ASSIGNABILITY.  The services to be performed by Employee hereunder 
are personal in nature and therefore Employee shall not assign all or any 
portion of his right, or delegate all or any portion of his obligations, under
this Agreement, and any attempted or purported assignment or delegation not 
expressly permitted by Employer in writing shall be null and void, ab initio.

FOURTEENTH: SUCCESSORS. Subject to the provisions of paragraph FOURTEENTH 
hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit
of Employer and Employee and their respective heirs, executors, administrators,
legal administrators, successors and assigns.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the 
date first above written.


DATA RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC. 
EMPLOYER


By:     /S/ Katharine W. Biggs
        __________________________________________

Title:  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
        __________________________________________



/s/ Michael J. Mellinger
________________________________
Michael J. Mellinger 
EMPLOYEE




SCHEDULE I

Definition of Change of Control

 A Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred upon the happening of 
any of the following events: (a) the acquisition by any person of more than 
50% of the Employer's outstanding common stock or any other class of stock 
representing more than 50% of the aggregate voting power of all classes of 
stock as a whole; or (b) a merger or consolidation of the Employer with any
other corporation pursuant to which the resulting aggregate ownership of 
Employer (or the parent or surviving corporation resulting from such merger
or consolidation) held by or attributable to those persons who were stock-
holders of Employer immediately prior to such merger or consolidation is less
than 50% of the aggregate common stock of Employer (or the parent or surviving
corporation resulting from such merger or consolidation) outstanding as a 
result of such merger or consolidation; the term "merger" shall include a
reorganization effected by means of a sale of 'Employer's assets or any other
substantial portion of the assets of the Employer; or (c) election to the Board
of Directors of the Employer at any stockholders meeting of any nominee other
than a nominee on whose behalf proxies were solicited by or on behalf of the 
incumbent management or directors of the Employer; or (d) removal by the 
stockholders of all or any of the incumbent directors of the Employer other 
than a removal for cause.