We report here on the spectral properties of RE 3+ (=Nd 3+ or Er 3+ ) doped B 2 O 3 -BaO-LiF (BBLi) glasses. Absorption spectrum of Nd 3+ : BBLi glass has exhibited seven absorption bands at 430 nm, 511 nm, 525 nm, 582 nm, 680 nm, 745 nm, and 802 nm which correspond to the electronic transitions of 4 I 9/2 → 2 P 1/2 , 4 I 9/2 → 4 G 9/2 , 4 I 9/2 → 4 G 7/2 , 4 I 9/2 → 4 G 5/2 , 4 I 9/2 → 4 F 9/2 , 4 I 9/2 → 4 F 7/2 and 4 I 9/2 → 4 F 5/2 respectively. From the Nd 3+ -glass, three emission bands have been measured at 902 nm ( 4 F 3/2 → 4 I 9/2 ), 1074 nm ( 4 F 3/2 → 4 I 11/2 ) and 1344 nm ( 4 F 3/2 → 4 I 13/2 ) with an excitation at 514.5 nm (Ar + ion laser). The Er 3+ glass, has revealed seven absorption bands at 450 nm, 487 nm, 520 nm, 542 nm, 651 nm, 978 nm and 1528 nm which are labelled to the transitions of 4 I 15/2 → 4 F 5/2 , 4 I 15/2 → 4 F 7/2 , 4 I 15/2 → 2 H 11/2 , 4 I 15/2 → 4 S 3/2 , 4 I 15/2 → 4 F 9/2 , 4 I 15/2 → 4 I 11/2 , and 4 I 15/2 → 4 I 13/2 respectively and for this glass, an emission at 1546 nm 4 I 13/2 → 4 I 15/2 has been observed with an excitation at 514.5 nm. Apart from this XRD, FTIR, TG-DTA studies have also been carried out to evaluate the structural properties of these optical glasses.