Hi Mike!

This comment goes a little beyond the scope of your question, but I would like to suggest it anyway. Try using MySQL. It's documentation is well maintained and even has a technical section on the MySQL Perl API.

As for drivers, I agree that CPAN is your friend.

There is both a commercial and free version of MySQL

Hope this helps
Kristofer Hoch
This node is a correction waiting for Abigail-II to happen