Information wants to cost precisely what's it worth based on its value, its utility, and the desire of the source to produce a profit or cover costs.
The Library of Congress has a massive database, constantly updated, of book information. By law and charter, the LOC cannot give this data away, even though it is not protected by copyright under US copyright law (it is created entirely by an agency of the government). The unit that distributes this information charges a rate commensurate with the costs it is required to recover.
Nonetheless, a number of resellers make quite a good living selling this information to other parties. If you obtain this information, you can use it for free and disseminate it for free.
]]>