I'm just about to do this project where i will make some lights flash up depending on some values thats in an sql database on a server. I have already bought my arduino and waiting for it to arrive, but I've been stuck in how to read this SQL data from the arduino with it being connectec to ethernet only. Is there a libary where i can select from the database directly or do I have to make a webservice in which i can make a http request to when needed? 

If its a webservice, can i be directed to some examples of this being used with arduino? I've been looking around the past few days but havent been able to find a decent example.

Best regards and thanks a lot in advance for your time! :-)