Ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectroscopic measurements have been employed to investigate undoped binary bismuth borate glass (60 mol% Bi(2)O(3), 40 mol% B(2)O(3)) and doped samples with 0.2% 3d transition metal oxides in order to obtain information about the role of all the constituents oxides including the dopants on the measured properties. The undoped sample shows strong extended UV-near visible absorption bands which are attributed to both trace iron impurities from raw materials used for glass preparation and Bi(3+) ions. The TM-samples show the same strong UV-near visible absorption as the undoped sample beside characteristic visible bands because of TM ions. The prepared samples show obvious shielding behavior toward the effect of successive gamma irradiation especially in the visible region. The infrared absorption spectra of the prepared samples show characteristic bands related to the sharing of triangular and tetrahedral borate groups together with Bi-O groups. The IR spectra are slightly affected by gamma irradiation indicating the stability of network forming units while the modifier, OH and water bands show obvious changes in their intensities.