perlfaq8 suggests a slightly different syntax when installing:

When you build modules, use the PREFIX option when generating Makefile
+s:
           perl Makefile.PL PREFIX=/u/mydir/perl
[download]

You also mention a use DBI 1.14; statement. I've personally never had to specify a version number. You might try the following to see what your library path is: print "@lib\n";

Update: I checked gnat's book, and Recipe 12.17 agrees with what he's said. perlfaq8 distributed with 5.005_3 is, in my opinion, a little misleading. Sorry about that!