Vending machine for library books: $35,000.

The Fullerton Public Library in California used a federal grant to outfit a nearby commuter train station with a vending-machine-style lending library.

About 3,000 commuters travel through the transportation hub on a typical weekday, "meaning that for the cost of the book machine, every commuter could have been given a gift card to purchase the book of their choice," according to Coburn.

Click here to read more.