Andrew AlbaneseIf winter is for pessimists – all grey and cold and bleak – then summer certainly is season for sunny dispositions. In August, though, the publishing business has seemed frozen as if in mid-January. The source of the polar vortex, of course, is the ongoing slugfest between Amazon and Hachette.

Yet while the book world can hardly expect a sudden heat wave any time soon, it ought to perk up from several items of heartwarming news this week. At a press conference where Barnes & Noble announced a partnership with Samsung to sell the Galaxy Tab 4, B&N CEO Michael Huseby discussed results of a commissioned study.

“In addition to the finding that 77% agreed that ‘reading is an important part of my life,’ almost half said that their reading had increased due to access to a smartphone or tablet reading device,” reports Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer.

Every Friday, CCC’s “Beyond the Book” speaks with the editors and reporters of “Publishers Weekly” for an early look at the news that publishers, editors, authors, agents and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.

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